A compass for the sunflower

This paper examines the distinctiveness in content and style of narrative texts written by prominent Palestinian women writers from Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, and the Diaspora, from 1948 to the present day. The paper diachronically examines the changes and developments that have taken place from period to period. It also synchronically examines the characteristics common to works from the same period and the differences between one writing locus and another. It shows that over the years, the writing of Palestinian women writers has become more refined in thematic and stylistic terms, while combining personal with national issues. Although the female self in the works of Palestinian women writers has become increasingly accentuated, the political dimension does not disappear from their work, and seems to be laying in wait to burst forth at any opportunity.