Before the flood | Memoirs of a Gazan family across three generations of colonial invasion, occupation and war in Palestine

The social, political and historical context of the Israeli war on Palestine, told through the stories of the author’s family and village. _“Before the Flood”_A well-researched and easy-to-read book, it is an indispensable book that stimulates action and protest.” \- Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of “A History of Indigenous Peoples in the United States”_ An in-depth exploration of Palestinian history and its resilience through the personal stories of the author’s family - the Badrasawians. Ramzi Baroud begins with intimate details of village life in Beit Daras before the Nakba, vividly portraying the rich cultural heritage, deep-rooted traditions, and daily suffering faced by ordinary people whose lives were radically upended by the violent unrest and ongoing conflicts sparked by British colonialism and Zionist aggression. Baroud weaves together the past and present, highlighting how historical forces shape the collective consciousness and steadfast resilience of the Palestinian people. His storytelling reveals not only the harsh realities of occupation, displacement, and loss, but also the extraordinary courage, faith, and solidarity that underpin a strong and enduring spirit of resistance, embodied in what the author calls the Palestinian “long term.” Ultimately, Baroud aims to humanize and reclaim Palestinian narratives from distorted images, highlighting their perseverance and universal quest for justice and liberation.