Rabih Alameddine on Writing Humor In Times of Tumult and Tragedy

Rabih Alameddine is a Lebanese-American author recognized for his award-winning works, including The Wrong End of the Telescope. In 2026, he released a new novel titled The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother), which explores the deep relationship between a mother and son across several decades. The story is set in Lebanon and narrated by Raja, a philosophy teacher and openly gay man known in his community. When Raja travels to the United States for a writing residency, he gains distance from both personal and national conflicts, but his journey ultimately forces him to confront past traumas. The novel blends humor with profound themes of memory, identity, and resilience, reflecting Alameddine’s signature style of tragicomedy.

The conversation between Rabih Alameddine and John Freeman took place at The Center for Fiction, a literary nonprofit based in Brooklyn, New York. The event celebrated the release of Alameddine’s new novel and included a discussion about writing humor during times of crisis. John Freeman, an editor and author, co-edited the forthcoming Penguin Book of the International Short Story with Alameddine. Their dialogue focused on how storytelling can help individuals navigate difficult realities, particularly in a world experiencing widespread turmoil, including conflicts and human rights abuses. The discussion also highlighted the role of literature in providing comfort and perspective amid chaos.

Alameddine reflects on the idea that returning to perceived normalcy after a traumatic experience can sometimes be more difficult than the trauma itself. He notes that many people tell themselves stories to cope with harsh realities, such as believing that atrocities will not affect them personally. For example, he mentions the fear of authoritarian measures, like detentions or disappearances, which disproportionately target marginalized groups. Alameddine expresses his own anxiety about these issues, stating that he once believed such events could not happen in his adopted country but now recognizes their possibility. He emphasizes that once oppressive systems gain a foothold, they often escalate, making it crucial to resist their normalization.

Alameddine discusses how storytelling serves as a survival mechanism in times of crisis. He explains that people create narratives to make sense of their experiences and protect themselves psychologically. For instance, Raja, the protagonist of his novel, uses compartmentalization and humor to navigate his personal and national struggles. Alameddine admits that while he struggles to believe in positive outcomes for the world, he finds inspiration in beauty and human connection, such as music or acts of kindness. He acknowledges his mixed feelings about humanity but highlights how small moments of care and art can provide solace and meaning amid widespread suffering.

Tragicomedy refers to a genre that blends tragic and comedic elements to explore complex human experiences. In Alameddine’s work, this approach allows him to address serious themes like war, displacement, and identity while using humor to highlight resilience and absurdity. For example, the novel includes tender moments, such as Raja’s reflection on how women ‘stroke each other with words’ during conversations, which contrasts with the darker events unfolding around him. Alameddine argues that beauty and care can coexist with suffering, and literature can capture this duality. His use of humor does not diminish the gravity of the issues but instead offers a way to process and endure them.

Rabih Alameddine is a multi-award-winning author with a diverse body of work, including novels like Angel of History, An Unnecessary Woman, and The Hakawati. He has received prestigious awards such as the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the National Book Award Finalist distinction, the Dos Passos Prize in 2019, and the Lannan Award in 2021. His writing often explores themes of exile, identity, and the Lebanese civil war. John Freeman, his co-editor on the Penguin Book of the International Short Story, is also an author and executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf. Freeman hosts literary events, including the California Book Club, and has published several books, such as California Rewritten.