A Divided Paradise: An Irishman in the Holy Land

by David Lynch

Overview

A Divided Paradise: An Irishman in the Holy Land is a vivid account of ordinary life in one of the world's most contested and volatile regions. Award winning journalist David Lynch brings to life stories from both the Palestinian and Israeli street. From coming under fire in the occupied West Bank, to visiting the 'First Irish Pub in Palestine', to talking Armageddon with young dispirited Israelis in Tel Aviv, personal experiences are interwoven with broad historical analysis.

A provocative introduction to the political and personal tragedy suffered by the Palestinian people and the continuing wider Middle Eastern conflict.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848400627
Publisher:	New Island
Publication date:	01/16/2009
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	300
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

David Lynch is a multi-award-winning journalist. He has reported from Palestine, Israel and the Egyptian revolution during 2011–2012. His work has appeared in the Sunday Business Post, the Village, the Medical Independent and on RTÉ Radio amongst others. This is his third book. Read David Lynch's article, 'Thomas Kinsella, Tahrir Square and the nature of heroism', in the Irish Times: 'The idea of writing a general introduction to the poetry of arguably Ireland's greatest living poet was forged in Cairo days full of tear gas, resistance and deadlines.'

Read an Excerpt

A Divided Paradise: An Irishman in the Holy Land is a vivid account of ordinary life in one of the world’s most contested and volatile regions. Award winning journalist David Lynch brings to life stories from both the Palestinian and Israeli street. From coming under fire in the occupied West Bank, to visiting the ‘First Irish Pub in Palestine’, to talking Armageddon with young dispirited Israelis in Tel Aviv, personal experiences are interwoven with broad historical analysis. A provocative introduction to the political and personal tragedy suffered by the Palestinian people and the continuing wider Middle Eastern conflict.

Editorial Reviews

Journalist Lynch's mission-to "unashamedly and sympathetically chronicle... the tragic Palestinian nation and its defiant, inspiring people"-is fulfilled in a heartrending account of the suffering of Palestinians under occupation. Lynch (Radical Politics in Modern Ireland) has not only covered the big events but also lived in the West Bank, witnessing up close Israeli raids, checkpoint lines and agitated soldiers and the privations created by Israel's 250-mile-long security wall. He impressively and seamlessly combines storytelling with reportage and fact-finding. His failures are thus all the more unfortunate: the book's scarce sourcing ensures that only those with a background in the field can judge his findings, and in his efforts to validate the Palestinian narrative, he too easily dismisses the Israeli counterpart. While Lynch takes pains to acknowledge Israeli humanity, calling Zionism "a colonizing project like most others" might lose the book some readers who might have been open to broadening their understanding of the conflict.(Aug.)

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