Can a single leader’s vision light the way for a nation centuries before it is recognized on a map?

The Lanterns of the King of Galilee is the foundational epic of Ibrahim Nasrallah’s "Palestinian Comedy." Set in the 18th century, it illuminates the extraordinary life of Zahir al-Umar al-Zaydani, the legendary leader who dared to challenge the Ottoman Empire to establish the first autonomous national state in Palestine.

Blending rigorous history with poetic imagination, the novel traverses the landscapes of Galilee, Damascus, and Istanbul to explore the deep roots of Palestinian identity. It is a story of justice, religious tolerance, and the quest for freedom. By reviving the legacy of a ruler who dreamed of dignity for his people, Nasrallah offers a soaring tribute to a hero whose light history tried—but failed—to extinguish.