The Book of Damascus

About

Damascus is a city of contradictions. Simultaneously the oldest city in the world, rich with Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic architecture, and one of the most modern and developed in the Middle East, it stands at a cross-roads between East and West, the past and the future, peace and war. It fully merits its titles 'City of Jasmine' and 'the Pearl of the East', while being torn by multiple layers of recent trauma, oppressive militarisations and the constant threat of crack-downs from consecutive regimes. After the devastating Civil War ground the city to a stalemate, more recent tensions have compounded the psychological trauma of that war with new fears. And yet, the people of Damascus maintain their reputation for being some of the warmest, kindest, most welcoming people in the world.

The stories in this anthology reflect some of these contradictions, with tales of love, heartbreak, political satire and adsurdity. Featuring writers both from and currently living in the city, it captures glimpses of the ongoing struggles Syrians face that no amount of journalism could come close to.

Praise for Reading the City:

‘Each time I read an anthology from Comma Press’s ‘Reading the City’ series, I am immensely impressed by the ability of the editors – who are always different – to order the stories so skilfully that I feel I’ve been taken on a real journey.’ — The Monthly Booking