“This is an amazingly original book that narrates the history of Palestine in an accessible, creative, and deeply cultural way—most importantly through the indigenous fruits of Falastin. It weaves simple prose that conveys hard, brutal truths with beautiful, often sad poetic lines that at the same time reflect the sumud of Palestinians and their thousands-year-old indigenous fruit trees, deeply rooted in Bilad al-Sham (the Levant).
Ian Wellens’ book lays it bare: simply put, it is a history that everyone in the global Palestine solidarity movement must have.”
— Tahrir Hamdi, professor, Arab Open University in Jordan
“Despite the wealth of excellent books on Palestine that have been published in recent years, there have been few that attempt to explain the “situation”, or that great misnomer “conflict” — what is actually happening, and how we got here — in a way that can be understood, and indeed embraced, by the general public. Yet it is hard to imagine a more urgent task.
Ian Wellens’ A History of Palestine in Five Fruits answers this call brilliantly. Straight-forward, yet elegant and imaginative, he takes the reader through the last century-and-a-half of this land between the river and the sea, explaining with simple clarity what happened and why, step-by-step. The writing’s often understated tone is an asset in gaining the trust of a public that must weigh its credibility against the lies in which our entire society is drowning. A highly recommended antidote for anyone who believes that Palestine is complicated.”
— Thomas Suárez, historian and musician
“This book offers a powerful and a comprehensive history of Palestine, told through the stories of five fruits that have endured and resisted colonial violence. By tracing how these fruits became targets of domination, expropriation, and erasure, the author illuminates the broader project of colonisation that has long sought to control land, resources, narrative, and identity. Free from academic footnotes or heavy referencing, the book invites readers to engage directly with well‑documented realities without distraction.
At the heart of this work lies Palestinian resistance, steadfastness, and global solidarity forces that are not only essential to the struggle for justice but also speak to the moral responsibility of humanity to challenge complicit governments and institutions. The book embodies the true meaning of solidarity, calling readers to action through literature, the preservation of native seeds, boycott, and legal advocacy.
Wellens skilfully weaves together the many dimensions of ongoing colonialism in Palestine and highlights the creative, diverse forms of defiance that make up a vibrant “mosaic of resistance.” As an activist, he stands alongside Palestinians in imagining a decolonised future with clarity, courage, and unwavering commitment, a future where liberation makes Palestine inclusive for all.
This is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the ongoing colonisation of Palestine and steadfastness, resistance, solidarity, and hope in the face of violence and dispossession.”
— Nadia Naser-Najjab, Co-Director of European Centre for Palestine Studies, University of Exeter.
“an eloquent, pointed treatment of the Palestinian story, a telling entwining of poetry and prose, I was very moved by it.”
— Tim Llewellyn, Former BBC Middle East Correspondent
“This book is for everyone who has ever stared in horror at reports of genocide in Gaza and wondered how such a situation came about. The author presents the history of Palestine in a clear and accessible chronology of events; a story of injustice and tragedy written with eloquence and passion. And woven into the narrative, there is poetry. The story of five fruits, grown in this land for centuries, and the importance of their harvest, both symbolic and real, to the people of Palestine and their unfolding tragedy.
It left me speechless, tearful… and enlightened.”
— Stephanie Austin, author
“I looooove this book ... I read it in one sitting … essential reading for anyone interested in the ongoing genocide and savagery in Gaza and the occupied territories … poetic, but utterly readable and understandable.”
— Brigid Keenan, founder, Palestine Literature Festival