Italian novelist Cecilia Barudi presents stories of pain from Gaza in her novel 'Sea of Gaza', which has become a cultural resistance tool, with proceeds supporting the Palestinian people.
The novel 'Sea of Gaza' was released as an exceptional literary work amidst Italian publications coinciding with the genocide in Gaza. Barudi, who visited the enclave during the blockade in early 2023, drew on her personal experience and deep knowledge of its people to provide a creative testimony reflecting the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Event Details
In the preface of the novel, Palestinian-Italian novelist Alaa Al-Sayed praised Barudi's understanding of the inner worlds of the writer, noting that Barudi's dream was not to visit famous tourist destinations, but to go to Gaza. Barudi expressed this desire passionately, causing her voice to change when she spoke from Gaza, where she felt the vibrations of peace and freedom.
Although 'Sea of Gaza' is Barudi's third novel, she emphasized that she did not want to write it, as she believes that Palestinians should tell their own stories. However, she transformed her human experiences in Gaza into a narrative work, published without going through traditional publishing houses, just a few months after the aggression against the enclave began.
Background & Context
Barudi stated, "I had to write the novel and publish it directly so that I could earn money to send to Gaza." 'Sea of Gaza' has become more than just a literary work; it is a living tool of solidarity with the Palestinian people. A website named after the novel has been created, selling copies and related products, with all profits going to support the people of Gaza.
The website quickly added 'Threads of Life', a poetry collection translated into Italian by young writer Hanan Azayza, which has become a bestseller. Barudi, who met Azayza through social media, was moved by her words and images during the war, prompting her to suggest compiling her reflections into a book.
Impact & Consequences
Barudi remarked, "Hanan was excited about the idea, and thus 'Threads of Life' was born, which resonated excellently among Italian readers. Azayza did not stop there; she is preparing to publish her first novel 'The Empty Chair' in 2025, which reflects the concerns of a young girl living under siege and wars.
Barudi, who has been writing and translating for years for the Palestine Chronicle Italy, confirmed that she handled Azayza's texts with great care, noting that the publication was done in a way that transcended traditional publishing houses to avoid delays in printing.
Regional Significance
Azayza speaks about her experience, saying, "Publishing my works in Italy was not just a literary event, but a true cultural crossing moment." She emphasizes that publishing 'The Empty Chair' and 'Threads of Life' in Arabic is not a later option, but an intellectual and aesthetic necessity, as the text in its mother tongue carries deeper meanings.
Azayza expects a different interaction from the Arab reader, pointing out that literature should be a space for transformation, where the reader emerges from the text with a changed worldview. Barudi stresses that her experience in Gaza was the most important in her life, where she felt profound meanings of life.