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Judy Smallman reviews The Phoenix by Abdul K. Sabawi
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Contents Category: Fiction
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Youness, a Bedouin from the Ananza tribe, comes in from the desert with his slaves and a thousand she-camels. His wish is to buy an olive valley on the outskirts of Gaza, the place where his mother is buried. Youness buys the olive valley and marries Fatima, daughter of the chief of Tuffa (a district of Gaza).

Book 1 Title: The Phoenix
Book Author: Abdul K. Sabawi
Book 1 Biblio: Papyrus, $19.95 pb
Book 1 Author Type: Author
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Under Youness’s ownership, the valley flourishes, having been neglected when previous owners were taxed heavily by the Ottoman Sultan. Youness and Tajal Din, a religious leader, join forces to fight the oppressive government. Meanwhile another oppressor, Napolean, begins his military assault on the crumbling Ottoman Empire, invading Egypt and Syria. The results are disastrous for Youness and for the people of Gaza.

The Phoenix has been translated from Arabic. It is a rich, complex and thoroughly engrossing novel that ends on a note of optimism for the Arab people.

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