[Bāb al-šams]
This novel is structured as a long, breathless vigil. In a makeshift hospital in the Shatila refugee camp, a man named Khalil sits by the bedside of his mentor, the heroic freedom fighter Yunis, who lies in a coma. In order to keep Yunis and the story of his people alive, Khalil embarks on a retelling of stories. The creative heart of this work lies in its “Scheherazade-like” quality. Khoury does not present history as a dry timeline. Through Khalil’s narration, we learn of the secret “Gate of the Sun”—a cave where Yunis would cross borders to meet his wife, Nahila, refusing to recognise the lines drawn by war. This novel illustrates the Palestinian experience, through stories told in the refugee camp.
[Khoury, E. (2006). Gate of the Sun. Tr. by Humphrey Davies. Vintage Publishing.]
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