Nathalie Handal (born 29 July 1969) is a Palestinian-American poet, writer and professor, described as a “contemporary Orpheus.” A New Yorker and a quintessential global citizen, she has published 10 prize-winning books, including Life in a Country Album.

She is praised for her “diverse, and innovative body of work.” [1] [2][3][4][5] Nathalie Handal is a poet and writer with French and American citizenship and was born in Haiti to a Mediterranean Palestinian family from Bethlehem.

[3][8][11][12] Handal has authored books of poetry, plays, essays, and has edited two anthologies and has been involved as a writer, director, or producer in several theatrical or film productions.

She is the recipient of awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, PEN Foundation, Pen International Croatia, Lannan Foundation, Fondazione di Venezia, Centro Andaluz de las Letras, Africa Institute, was honored Finalist for the Gift of Freedom Award, winner of the Alejo Zuloaga Order in Literature, and featured at the United Nations for Outstanding Contributors in literature, among others.

It was an Academy of American Poets bestseller, named one of the top 10 Feminist Books by The Guardian, and it won the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award.