The author Rawi Hage discusses his new novel Beirut Hellfire Society (Knopf, 2018), with Joseph Planta.

Beirut Hellfire Society by Rawi Hage (Knopf, 2018). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Beirut Hellfire Society

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

Rawi Hage has just published a new novel, Beirut Hellfire Society. The book has gotten a number of good notices. All his previous books DeNiro’s Game, Cockroach, and Carnival, have been critically acclaimed, bestsellers, and nominated for the major literary prizes in Canada and beyond. This new book takes readers to the Lebanon of the 1970s. In the midst of a violent civil war, we meet Pavlov, the son of an undertaker, who is drawn to his father’s work following his death. I talk to Mr. Hage about this time and place, death, religion, and in the case of the Hellfire Society, their anti-religious rebelliousness. We also discuss writing and more. The book is published by Knopf. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Rawi Hage; Mr. Hage, good morning.

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