''Palestine'' is a

non-fiction Non-fiction (or nonfiction) is any document or content (media), media content that attempts, in good faith, to convey information only about the real life, real world, rather than being grounded in imagination. Non-fiction typically aims to pre ...

graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...

written and drawn by

Joe Sacco Joe Sacco (; born October 2, 1960) is a Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist. He is credited as the first artist to practice rigorous, investigative journalism using the comics form, also referred to as comics journalism. His groundbrea ...

about his experiences in the

West Bank The West Bank is located on the western bank of the Jordan River and is the larger of the two Palestinian territories (the other being the Gaza Strip) that make up the State of Palestine. A landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...

and the

Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip, also known simply as Gaza, is a small territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea; it is the smaller of the two Palestinian territories, the other being the West Bank, that make up the State of Palestine. I ...

in December 1991 and January 1992. Sacco's portrayal of the situation emphasizes the history and plight of the

Palestinian people Palestinians () are an Arab ethnonational group native to the Levantine region of Palestine. *: "Palestine was part of the first wave of conquest following Muhammad's death in 632 CE; Jerusalem fell to the Caliph Umar in 638. The indigenous ...

, as a group and as individuals.

Publication history

The complete graphic novel, published in 2001 by

Fantagraphics Books Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and (formerly) the Erotic comics, erotic Eros Comix imprint. They have managed sev ...

, collects nine issues of Sacco's ''Palestine''

comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

, published by Fantagraphics from 1993 to 1995; the single volume edition includes an introduction by

Edward Said Edward Wadie Said (1 November 1935 – 24 September 2003) was a Palestinian-American academic, literary critic, and political activist. As a professor of literature at Columbia University, he was among the founders of Postcolonialism, post-co ...

. In 1996, Fantagraphics had released a two-part collection of the series—''Palestine, a Nation Occupied'' (collecting ''Palestine'' #1–5) and ''Palestine: In the Gaza Strip'' (collecting issues #6–9). An expanded edition was released in 2007. In 2023, in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict resuming, the book sold out and was rushed back into publication by Fantagraphics after selling out their inventory.

Plot summary

The book takes place over a two-month period in late 1991 / early 1992, with occasional flashbacks to the expulsion of the Arabs, the beginning of the

Intifada Intifada () is an Arabic word for a rebellion or uprising, or a resistance movement. It can also be used to refer to a civilian uprising against oppression.Ute Meinel''Die Intifada im Ölscheichtum Bahrain: Hintergründe des Aufbegehrens von 19 ...

, the

Gulf War , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...

and other events in the more immediate past. Sacco spent this time meeting with Palestinians in the

and

and the narrative focuses on the minute details of everyday life in these areas. In ''Palestine,'' Sacco positions himself knowingly as the westerner going to the

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

to confront a reality unfamiliar to his American audience. Sacco does not delude himself into thinking that, as a "neutral" observer, he can remain invisible and have no effect on the events around him. Instead, he accepts his role and concentrates on his personal experience of the situation. Though his goal is to document events and interview Palestinians, he is affected by the reality of the occupied territories and cannot help but participate in and comment on demonstrations, funerals, roadblocks, and encounters with soldiers. Towards the end, he becomes even more active as he shares food and lodgings with the Palestinians he interviews and even breaks curfew with them while in the Gaza Strip. In the book, Sacco references

Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, ; 3 December 1857 – 3 August 1924) was a Poles in the United Kingdom#19th century, Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the Eng ...

's '' Under Western Eyes'', ''

Heart of Darkness ''Heart of Darkness'' is an 1899 novella by Polish-British novelist Joseph Conrad in which the sailor Charles Marlow tells his listeners the story of his assignment as steamer captain for a Belgium, Belgian company in the African interior. Th ...

'', and

's ''

Orientalism In art history, literature, and cultural studies, Orientalism is the imitation or depiction of aspects of the Eastern world (or "Orient") by writers, designers, and artists from the Western world. Orientalist painting, particularly of the Middle ...

'' to draw links between the situation he is witnessing and

colonialism Colonialism is the control of another territory, natural resources and people by a foreign group. Colonizers control the political and tribal power of the colonised territory. While frequently an Imperialism, imperialist project, colonialism c ...

. Towards the end of the book, when challenged by an Israeli that he has not experienced their point of view, he responds that the Israeli point of view is what he has internalized his whole life, and although another trip would be necessary to fully experience Israel, that was not why he was there.

Awards

The 1996 two-volume collection of ''Palestine'' was awarded the 1996

American Book Award The American Book Awards are an American literary award that annually recognizes a set of books and people for "outstanding literary achievement". According to the 2010 awards press release, it is "a writers' award given by other writers" and "t ...

by the

Before Columbus Foundation The Before Columbus Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 by Ishmael Reed, "dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of contemporary American multicultural literature". The Foundation makes annual awards for books published in ...

. In 1999, ''

The Comics Journal ''The Comics Journal'', often abbreviated ''TCJ'', is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels. Known for its lengthy interviews with comic creators, pointed editorials and scathing r ...

''—like ''Palestine'', also published by Fantagraphics—named ''Palestine'' as #27 in the Top 100 English-Language Comics of the Century. The book was given the 2002

Firecracker Alternative Book Award The Firecracker Awards are a set of annual U.S. literary awards focusing on small-press publishing. Previously known as the Firecracker Alternative Book Awards (FABs), in the current form they are known as the CLMP Firecracker Awards for Independ ...

for Best Graphic Novel.

References

External links

Fantagraphics pageJoe Sacco on ''Footnotes in Gaza'' and ''Palestine''
- Interview on the 7th Avenue Project radio show {{DEFAULTSORT:Palestine (Comics) 1996 graphic novels Books about Palestinians Israeli–Palestinian conflict books Comics by Joe Sacco Fantagraphics titles Non-fiction graphic novels Non-fiction comics Graphic novels set in Asia Graphic novels set in the 1990s First Intifada

Publication history

Plot summary

Awards

References

Further reading

External links