Syria Speaks : Art and culture from the frontline / Edited by Malu Halasa, Zaher Omareen & Nawara Mahfoud

In Syria, culture has become a critical line of defence against tyranny. Syria Speaks is a celebration of a people determined to reclaim their dignity, freedom and self-expression. It showcases the work of over fifty artists and writers who are challenging the culture of violence in Syria. Their literature, poems and songs, cartoons, political posters and photographs document and interpret the momentous changes that have shifted the frame of reality so drastically in Syria. Moving and inspiring, Syria Speaks is testament to the courage, creativity and imagination of the Syrian people. 'Syria Speaks is a remarkable achievement and a remarkable book – a wise, courageous, imaginative and beautiful response to all that is ugly in human behaviour. This extraordinary anthology gives a voice to those we may have forgotten, or whom we may classify as simply passive and silent victims. The people shown living, dreaming and speaking here are far more than victims and only silent if we refuse to hear them.' A.L. Kennedy 'An extraordinary collection, revealing a dynamic and exciting culture in painful transition – a culture where artists are really making a difference ... You need to read this book.' Brian EnoIn Syria, culture has become a critical line of defence against tyranny. Syria Speaks is a celebration of a people determined to reclaim their dignity, freedom and self-expression. It showcases the work of over fifty artists and writers who are challenging the culture of violence in Syria. Their literature, poems and songs, cartoons, political posters and photographs document and interpret the momentous changes that have shifted the frame of reality so drastically in Syria. Moving and inspiring, Syria Speaks is testament to the courage, creativity and imagination of the Syrian people. 'Syria Speaks is a remarkable achievement and a remarkable book – a wise, courageous, imaginative and beautiful response to all that is ugly in human behaviour. This extraordinary anthology gives a voice to those we may have forgotten, or whom we may classify as simply passive and silent victims. The people shown living, dreaming and speaking here are far more than victims and only silent if we refuse to hear them. 1. Gateways to a scorched land / Samar Yazbek; 2. Ongoing / Sulafa Hijazi; 3. The Thieves Market / Ossama Mohammed; 4. Lettuce Fields / Khaled Khalifa; 5. Revolution 2011; Chicken Liver / Khalil Khalifa; 6. Between the cultures of sectarianism and citizenship / Hassan Abbas; 7. Banners in the colour of the Euphrates / Kartoneh; 8. The Art of Persuasion / Alshaab Alsori Aref Tarekh & Charlotte Bank; 9. The symbol and counter-symbols in Syria / Zaher Omareen; 10. Cartoons by Kafranbel, Photographs / Mezar Matar; 11. Mystery Shopper: Interview with Assad Alachi / Malu Halasa; 12. Popular Collision / Omar Alassad; 13. Lens Young; 14. A Black Cloud in a leaden white sky, or death by stabs of sorrow / Ali Safar; 15. Literature of the Syrian uprising / Robin Yassin-Kassab; 16. Loneliness pampers its victims / Dara Abdallah; 17. Have you heard the testimonies of the photographs, about the killings in Syria / Fadia Lazkani; 18. Regarding the pain of others and Damascus 15 FEb 2012 19:47:31 / Khaled Barakeh, Photographs by Jens Steingasser; 19. I'm positively sure about the event / Rasha Omran; 20. Two cartoons / Ali Ferzat; 21. On the intellectual and the revolution: An interview with Yassin al-Haj Saleh; 22. Cocktail / Comic4Syria; 23. Lifetimes stolen / Yara Badr; 24. Letter for the future / Mazen Darwish; 25. Daily occurrences / Mohamad Omran & Golan Haji; 26. Song in the Revolution / Qashoush, Monma, Al-Raas and Al Sayyed Darwish, Hani al-Sawah; 27. Tashriqa: Prayer for Homs / Faraj Bayrakdar; 28. From the outside looking in / Daniel Gorman; 29. Youssef from the Inside, Paintings by / Youssef Abdelke, Photographs by Nassouh Zaghlouleh; 30. Art & Freedom / Amer Matar & Artists; 31. Syria's Imperfect Cinema / Chad Elias & Zaher Omareen; 32. Who wants to kill a million? ; Top Goon: Diaries of a little dictator / Masasit Mati; 33. A Plate of salmon is not completely cleansed of blood / Rasha Abbas; 34. The smartest guy on facebook / Aboud Saeed; 35. Stencilling martyrs

English