1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Return
Embarking on a profoundly personal quest, Hisham Matar sought to discover what had happened to his father, Jaballa Matar.
Hisham's unyielding pursuit to reveal the fate of his father.
Hisham Matar's unwavering pursuit to uncover the fate of his father, Jaballa Matar, is narrated with a suspense that rivals that of a gripping mystery novel. Hisham undertakes his search with inherent sharpness and emotional perceptiveness. His search was so intense that it resulted in numerous sleepless nights and disrupted his writing projects for an entire three months. He solicits help from possible supporters, encompassing the offspring of the previous Libyan ruler and numerous influential human rights organizations. Despite confronting obstacles and enduring perplexing interactions with officials from Libya, including Abuzed Dorda, and coping with a string of broken promises from Seif el-Islam, Hisham persists unwaveringly in his search for the truth.
In his search, Hisham uncovers the disturbing reality that his father suffered imprisonment in the infamous Libyan detention center starting in 1990 until April 1996, yet the specifics of what happened to him subsequently are still shrouded in mystery. The fall of Tripoli in 2011 and the subsequent uprisings brought hope but also cemented the somber understanding that Jaballa Matar had probably died, as he...
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The Return Summary The setting is Libya during Qaddafi's authoritarian regime.
The dictatorship of Muammar Qaddafi has left a lasting and profound imprint on both the administration of Libya and the existence of its citizens.
Hisham Matar's relatives have a deeply rooted legacy of opposing Qaddafi's regime.
Hisham Matar's ancestor played an active role in resisting Italian colonial dominance.
Hisham's family history was characterized by a rebellious spirit that began with his grandfather's opposition to Italian colonial domination. Hamed Matar, Hisham Matar's grandfather, was deeply troubled by the Italian invasion and promptly enlisted with the armed rebels in Libya's east, pledging his support to a prominent resistance figure immediately following the 1911 incursion.
The father of Hisham Matar was instrumental in organizing resistance against Qaddafi's rule.
Hisham Matar moved to Egypt to set up a stronghold for opposition, observing the governance parallels that echoed from the era of Italian colonization to the reign...
The Return Summary Hisham actively pursued his advocacy by confronting the Qaddafi government directly.
Hisham's journey for justice illuminates the daunting challenges he faced during his dealings with the regime of Qaddafi.
Hisham embarked on an unwavering quest to uncover the fate of his father during the regime of Qaddafi.
Hisham relentlessly engaged in individual and joint efforts to illuminate the circumstances of his father's imprisonment and potential fate.
In his pursuit of understanding, Hisham turns to top Libyan officials, including Seif el-Islam, a scion of the Qaddafi lineage.
Hisham set out on a quest that led to intimate dialogues with Seif el-Islam Qaddafi along with other prominent officials of the Libyan regime. Despite his numerous efforts to establish communication, his inquiries often encountered silence or vague responses. Seif occasionally engaged with Hisham, giving the impression of help but rarely offering substantial information about Hisham's father.
The authorities gave elusive and deceptive answers when he sought information.
The government's dealings, marked by deliberate avoidance, cunning, and appeasement, were designed to delay any real advancement. Individuals in positions of power, like Abdullah Senussi, often exhibited a...
The Return
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Clarifications
- Jaballa Matar, the father of Hisham Matar, was imprisoned in a Libyan detention center from 1990 to April 1996. Despite efforts to uncover his fate, the specifics of what happened to him after 1996 remain unclear. The fall of Tripoli in 2011 brought hope but also suggested that Jaballa Matar may have died during widespread executions at the prison in 1996.
- Muammar Gaddafi ruled Libya as a dictator for over four decades, from 1969 until his overthrow in 2011 during the Arab Spring uprisings. His regime was characterized by authoritarian control, human rights abuses, and suppression of political dissent. Gaddafi's government employed brutal tactics, including imprisonment, torture, and extrajudicial killings, to maintain power and silence opposition. The regime's oppressive measures extended beyond Libya's borders, with instances of violence and intimidation targeting dissidents even in other...
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