Publisher's Synopsis
This powerful memoir traces the life of Seham Obegi (maiden name: Mudarri), a sharp-witted and eloquent Arab woman who came of age in Jerusalem during the final days of the Ottoman Empire and the turbulent decades that followed. With piercing honesty and poetic insight, Seham recounts her family's rich cultural heritage, their flight from war-torn Damascus, and their complex relationships with neighbors, religion, and colonial powers. Through personal anecdotes, political observations, and moments of unexpected humor, she explores what it means to be an Arab Christian woman caught between worlds-linguistically, spiritually, and historically.
More than a personal history, this is a love letter to Arab identity, a critique of colonial manipulation, and a deeply human story of resilience, dignity, and belonging. Seham's voice-fierce, tender, and unflinching-remains as relevant today as ever.
