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Before Their Diaspora: A Photographic History of the Palestinians, 1876-1948 Paperback – January 1, 1991

by Walid Khalidi (Author)

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Before Their Diaspora is a visual journey into life in Palestine before its partition in 1948. Every important aspect of modern Palestinian history comes to life in the nearly 500 photographs carefully selected from thousands available from private and public collections throughout the world.

Print length

356 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Inst for Palestine Studies
Publication date

January 1, 1991
Dimensions

9.25 x 1.25 x 12.25 inches
ISBN-10

0887282288
ISBN-13

978-0887282287
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The most effective history of the Palestinians to appear in the U.S." -- Ambassador Andrew Killgore, Middle East Times

About the Author

Walid Khalidi is a distinguished historian and widely recognized authority on Palestine. He is a Senior Research Fellow at Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and the author of numerous books and articles.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Inst for Palestine Studies; 2nd edition (January 1, 1991)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 356 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0887282288
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0887282287
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.9 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.25 x 1.25 x 12.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,202,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #132,053 in World History (Books)

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4.8 out of 5

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Coco Poco Loco

Enormous variety of photographs with cogent captions that elicit empathy

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2024

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This collection of photos is a powerful summons to the observer to feel, along with the subjects, the sense of loss which accompamies these victims of land theft, physical abuse, impoverishment, imrisonment, exile, relentless humiliation - all of these tragedies magnified by the indifference of an uncaring, global world community. Thankfully, graphic and articulate presentations such as this one, are transforming indifference into agency, as many millions across the world are recognizing the Palestinians demand for redress as long overdue.

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muna

Excellent documentation of the history of Palestine.

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024

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Excellent documentation of the history of Palestine. Incredible amount of pictures of the land and the people during pre 1948 Palestine. A wealth of information and a good reference. I highly recommend this book!

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Boiler

Amazing book. A treasure.

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023

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There are so many misconceptions about what life was like in Palestine before the creation of the state of Israel. This book does an amazing job with beautiful pictures and a chronology of events. This book should be in every library and school.

One person found this helpful

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Laura

Beautiful, sad book

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2011

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This book's beautiful pictures bring to life the Palestinians--Muslim and Christian Arabs--living in Palestine before 1948 and their interactions with British rule and Zionism leading up to the establishment of Israel. Flipping through the book is at once breathtaking and tragic, since you know what is going to befall the people on each page--schoolgirls, mayors, shopkeepers, artisans, every member of society. It clearly documents the vibrant, civilized society in Palestine before Israel and explains so much of the Palestinian longing for their homeland.

I have only read the introduction so far, but it seems quite balanced. It is definitely told from the Palestinian perspective and it is critical of Zionism, but it does not go on an anti-Israel tirade, nor is it unsympathetic to the Jewish desire for a state after the Holocaust. It places most of the blame for the ongoing conflict on the behavior of the United States and, after seeing how my country has completely failed in recent years to have anything resembling a constructive, neutral role in the region, I'd have to agree with him.

15 people found this helpful

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AMJ

A glimpse at a not so distant past that ceased

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2013

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A wonderful book, allowing a glimpse at the life of the Palestinians prior to 1948, exploring many aspects of daily life in the holy land. A must read for those interested in history. Palestine or Eretz Yesrael has seen its fare share of events since the late 1800s, that helped shape and reshape the region. The daily lives of the Palestinian inhabitants of the holy land (Muslims, Christians and Jews) prior to 1948 is seldom discussed and is usually lost in the discussion of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This book elaborates on that subject through carefully chosen pictures. In all fairness, the life of the non-European Jewish community in Palestine prior to 1948 is only shown in a handful of pictures and is not truly discussed.
This book helps to show that contrary to modern misconception, prior to 1948, Palestine was not an arid empty land but rather filled with prosperous communities.

16 people found this helpful

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maram bata

etc beautiful cities and villages

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2014

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This is a must read book for any one interested in the palestinian/israeli conflict. A photo is worth 1000 words! many of these photos tell a story! it is a must have for all Palestinians to gift to western friends who studied the history by the victor Israel! This book documents by photos contradicting the myth : 'a land without poeple for people without a land' palestine was prosperous! It had industries, acriculture, theatre , beautiful architecture , cities and villages.
Also it highlights the terrorism that Palestinians were subject to! It verifies the story that palestinians has been saying all these years and why palestinians refer to the creation of Israel as Nakbeh 'Catastrophe' .

10 people found this helpful

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Moris Roger

The Palestinian Diaspora

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2012

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Hello, I did order this book after I did read the wonderful book "Mornings in Jenin" written by Susan Abulhawa. This photographic history was one of the works mentioned at the back of the book. Because I was so overwhelmed by Susan's book I wanted to buy this other book.

It's very nice and I am pleased with it.

Wit kind regards

Roger

5 people found this helpful

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tineke

Development palestinian leadership; a necessary addition to our knowledge

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2014

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it depicts in photos the history of the Palestinian people in this region; with their organizations, their rich people, their intellectuals, their contact with abroad, which changed so profoundly as a consequence of the 1948 War.I had never seen so much of this information before. No pictures of Jews living in the area in order to be able to focus on this part of the history. We as readers have to mix later also other pieces of information in order to understand how the situation developed.

12 people found this helpful

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Dr.Detlef Griesche

Ein phantastisches Buch zur Geschichte Palästinas

Reviewed in Germany on August 20, 2023

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Das Buch mit hunderten Fotos räumt mit Lügen auf, dass es keine Palästinenser gegäben hätte, wie israelische Ideologen behaupten. Ganz wichtige Fakten!

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Boiler

Rare and important book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2023

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There are so many misconceptions about what was in the land of Palestine before the creation of the state Israel. This rare and beautiful book shows how Palestinian society lived in the few decades right before their displacement. Amazing pictures and clear chronology of events during that period.

Alfred G

A super book; wonderful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2016

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A super book; wonderful, evocative photos of a lost world, gone forever. Photos accompanied by a clear explanatory history of Palestine up to 1948. Highly recommended!

2 people found this helpful

Annie O'Gara

A marvellous catalogue of what the Palestinians have lost. ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2014

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A marvellous catalogue of what the Palestinians have lost. Moving and informative, we need to be reminded of what has been stolen from them by israel

3 people found this helpful

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Before Their Diaspora: A Photographic History of the Palestinians, 1876-1948 Paperback – January 1, 1991

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