A Woman in the Crossfire: Diaries of the Syrian Revolution

Yazbek, a young Syrian journalist and novelist, sought to record the events and the spirit of the escalating demonstrations against the autocratic regime of Bashar al-Assad in the months following March 2011. As she portrays the idealism and courage of the demonstrators in the face of increasing repression, she shows how the initial goals of greater freedom and a dignified life evolved into a determination to overthrow the increasingly brutal regime. This book grew out of her diaries—it's not a journalistic analysis or report. Instead it's a poetic and philosophical evocation of her emotions, fears, and anger. She describes the resisters as they face heavily armed government forces, many to be killed and wounded, others to be arrested and tortured. Yazbek herself participated in many demonstrations, questioned soldiers who were armed with powerful weapons and tanks, wept with mothers seeking missing sons, while she herself suffered arrest and beatings.