Dunya Mikhail beschäftigt sich in ihrem Werk mit den tiefgreifenden Auswirkungen von Trauma und Erinnerung, insbesondere im Kontext von Krieg und politischer Unterdrückung. Ihre Poesie zeichnet sich durch eine starke persönliche Stimme aus, die sich durch Metapher und Symbolik bewegt. Sie erforscht häufig die starken Kontraste zwischen Schönheit und Brutalität, Hoffnung und Verzweiflung und enthüllt so die Zerbrechlichkeit der menschlichen Verfassung. Mikhail's Schreiben bietet ein ergreifendes Zeugnis für Widerstandsfähigkeit und Überleben angesichts immenser Widrigkeiten.
Ein ergreifender Roman erzählt von Helen, einer jesidischen Frau im Nordirak, deren Familie durch den IS auseinandergerissen wird. Während sie ihren verschwundenen Mann sucht, gerät sie selbst in Gefangenschaft. Trotz unsagbaren Leids und Herausforderungen kämpft sie um die Wiedervereinigung ihrer Familie.
This work offers a profound poetic examination of language and gender, intertwined with themes of place and time, all viewed through the lens of exile. It delves into the complexities of identity and belonging, using vivid imagery and lyrical expression to capture the nuances of the human experience in relation to displacement. The exploration invites readers to reflect on the intersections of personal and collective histories shaped by the experience of being an outsider.
A collection about war and its human cost by exiled Iraqi poet and a former literary editor of the Baghdad Observer.
In The Beekeeper of Sinjar, the acclaimed poet and journalist Dunya Mikhail tells the harrowing stories of women from across Iraq who have managed to escape the clutches of ISIS. Since 2014, ISIS has been persecuting the Yazidi people, killing or enslaving those who won't convert to Islam. These women have lost their families and loved ones, along with everything they've ever known. Dunya Mikhail weaves together the women's tales of endurance and near-impossible escape with the story of her own exile and her dreams for the future of Iraq.In the midst of ISIS's reign of terror and hatred, an unlikely hero has emerged: the Beekeeper. Once a trader selling his mountain honey across the region, when ISIS came to Sinjar he turned his knowledge of the local terrain to another, more dangerous use. Along with a secret network of transporters, helpers, and former bootleggers, Abdullah Shrem smuggles brutalised Yazidi women to safety through the war-torn landscapes of Iraq, Syria, and Eastern Turkey.This powerful work of literary nonfiction offers a counterpoint to ISIS's genocidal extremism: hope, as ordinary people risk torture and death to save the lives of others.
A powerful and sweeping novel set over two tumultuous decades in Iraq from the National Book Award-nominated author of The Beekeeper. Shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
The collection features short poems inspired by Iraqi haiku, showcasing a profound wisdom that transcends cultural boundaries. Each piece encapsulates deep insights and emotions, inviting readers to explore themes of resilience and reflection through concise and impactful language.