The secret life of a Palestinian Communist activist during the leadup to World War II.

In the public eye, Najati Sidqi was known as a journalist and writer, a translator of Russian classics, and an outspoken opponent of Nazism. However, Sidqi concealed a critical component of his life from the world and his family. He was an underground activist for the Palestinian Communist Party, a risky and influential pursuitthat took him to early Bolshevik Moscow, British courts and prison cells in Palestine, Nazi Germany, intrigue-heavy interwar Paris, and Civil War Spain, Morocco, and Algeria. Throughout his journey, Sidqi continued to write, even as he faced fascism, intense surveillance, active warzones, the death of friends, and exile.

Memoirs of a Palestinian Communist brings Sidqi’s incredible life and work to light, wryly narrating his international travels, his work as an activist, and his political dealings at a crucial moment for Palestine and the international fight against fascism. Translated from Arabic into English for the first time, it is a riveting firsthand account of an often-overlooked aspect of the history of the global left. Generous supplementary materials make the memoir accessible to students and non-specialist scholars: a preface by Sidqi’s grandson, a foreword by renowned historian Joel Beinin, a translators’ introduction that presents new research on Sidqi’s family history, a map of his travels, and a timeline, as well as a bibliographic essay offering pointers for further research.

Najati Sidqi was a journalist and writer, a translator of Russian classics, and an outspoken opponent of Nazism.

Margaret Litvin is an associate professor of Arabic and comparative literature at Boston University. Her literary translations include Egyptian writer Sonallah Ibrahim’s novel Ice.

Anas Farhan holds a BA in international relations from Boston University.

Gideon Gordon holds a BA in international relations and Middle East & North Africa studies from Boston University. He is a 2024–2025 Center for Arabic Study Abroad fellow.