Mahmoud Darwish was one of the most acclaimed contemporary poets in the Arab world, and is often cited as the poetic voice of the Palestinian people. During the tumultuous summer of 2006, as Israel attacked Gaza and Lebanon, Darwish was in Ramallah. He recorded his observations and feelings in writing, included in A River Dies of Thirst, some of his last work. In this collection, Darwish writes of love, loss, and the pain of exile in bittersweet poems and diary entries leavened with hope and joy. 'Darwish has given expression to his people's ordinary longings and desires.' The New York Times 'Darwish did as much as anyone to forge a Palestinian national consciousness.' Guardian