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Liana Badr was born in Jerusalem to a nationalist family, and was
raised in
Jericho. The family
fled to Jordan after the 1967 invasion, and then to Beirut after
Black September 1970. Badr interrupted the studies she began at the
University of Jordan, and obtained a BA in philosophy and psychology
from the Beirut Arab University,
but she was unable to complete her MA due to the Lebanese civil war.
She worked as a volunteer in various Palestinian women’s
organizations, and as a field reporter and editor in the Al Hurriyya
review cultural section. After the 1982 Palestinian exodus from
Lebanon, she lived in Damascus, Tunis, and Amman, and returned to
Palestine in 1994. She is a married mother of two. In addition to
her literary work, she also runs the Cinema and Audiovisual
department at the Palestinian ministry of culture in Ramallah, and a
founding editor of the ministry’s periodical : Dafater Thaqafiyya.
Writings
Badr published her first novel in Beyrouth in 1979, "A Compass for
the Sunflower". She has also published short story collections,
novellas, a children’s book, a poetry collection, and a book about
poet Fadwa Touqan. Her works have been translated into a number of
languages. Her works mainly focus on themes of women and war, and
exile. Her style has been described by the Times Literary Supplement
as "defy the laws of fictional gravity", and "densely lyrical".
1979: "A Compass for the Sunflower" :
This first novel was published by Dar Ibn Ruchd in Beirut, to wide
acclaim. Its lyrical style broke away from the mold of the
Palestinian realist novel, and its focus on a woman’s life from
Palestine, to exile in
Amman and Beirut, against the backdrop of turbulent political events
and catastrophes, challenged the linear, male dominated literary
output of the time.
It was translated in 1989 by the Women’s Press in the UK, and in
1992 into French by Metropolis in Geneva
1983: ( stories of love and pursuit) :
This
short story collection was published in Aden, Yemen
in 1983 by Dar el Hamadani
1983: "Balcony Over the Fakahani" :
This
collection of three novellas was published in Damascus by Dar el
Alam and in 1990 by Dar el Thaqafa el Jadida in
Cairo, and Dar el Nawrass in Jerusalem.
It interweaves the narratives of two women and one man recounting
their successive uprootings: 1948 from Palestine, 1970 from Jordan,
and 1982 from Beirut. The novellas evocative and contrapuntal style
allows the reader to glimpse the joy and despair of lives rooted in
exile and resistance. It was translated in 1993 into English by
Interlink, NY.
1989 (I want the day):This
short story collection was published by Dar el Hiwar in
Damascus, and by Dar el Aswar in Acre in 1986.
1991:The Eye of the Mirror:
Published by Tobgal in Morocco, this epic novel is based on seven
years of research into Palestinian women refugees oral history. The
book tells the story of Aicha’s life and loves in Tel Zaatar, before
and after the massacre. The book was translated into English in 1996
by Garnet, in the UK, and into Dutch
1991: (Golden Hell) :
This short story collection was published by Dar el Adab in Beirut.
1993: (Stars of Jericho)
This acclaimed novel was published in
Cairo by Dar el Hilal.
1996: (Fadwa Touqan- the shadow of narrated words) :
This book was published by Dar el Fata el Arabi in Cairo.
It is an interview/memoir of poet Fadwa Touqan.
Liana Badr has also published five children’s books from 1980 to
1991 & a poetry collection in 1997.
Source: Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre
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