São Paulo – Lebanon: A Biography will be published in Brazil this September by Tinta-da-China Brasil. Through this project, author Safaa Dib seeks to trace the journey of a people shaped by recurring crises, compelled to emigrate yet deeply connected to their roots and collective memory. The daughter of Lebanese parents, Dib was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but grew up and now lives in Portugal, where she also serves as a municipal councilor in Cascais, near Lisbon. The book was originally written in Portuguese.
According to a statement released by the publisher, Safaa Dib’s family left Lebanon to settle in a small Arab community in Portugal, far from the successive crises that have marked the country’s history. Despite the distance from Lebanon, Dib grew up surrounded by the Arabic language, traditional cuisine, and the memories and cultural heritage of her parents. Together, these elements form the “raw material” of the book.
In the book, Dib reconstructs the history of Lebanon through both historical archives and personal stories. Part of that history was shaped beyond the country’s borders, within the Lebanese diaspora, which plays a central role in the narrative. Lebanese communities abroad have continued to support the rebuilding of their homeland, even from afar.
Part of this diaspora settled in Brazil, now home to one of the world’s largest Lebanese and Lebanese-descended communities. The Brazilian edition includes an expanded chapter that revisits this migration process, beginning in the early nineteenth century. The book also draws on the author’s own memories, including her interactions with Brazilian customers at her restaurant in Lisbon.
The story extends beyond personal recollections. The travels of Emperor Dom Pedro II to the Middle East, including Lebanon, are also featured in Lebanon: A Biography. Writer Rui Tavares authored the book’s foreword, while Brazilian journalist and Middle East specialist Diogo Bercito wrote the flap text for the Brazilian edition, which is expected to be launched with the author in attendance.
Book Information
Title: Lebanon: A Biography
Author: Safaa Dib
Length: 264 pages
Price: R$99.90
Release date: September 19, 2026
Translated by A.I.
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