Recently, the former French diplomat Professor Michel Raimbaud published a book entitled ‘ The Syrian Wars’ [Les Guerres de Syrie,] in order to provide the readers with some think tracks and leads for reflection, if not answers to the questions asked by those willing to understand.

‘The book will offer a frame of explanation for the ongoing events, unveiling some realities and facts, and demystifying many lies and fictions,’ the author told the Syria Times e-newspaper, hoping that his book will contribute towards doing justice to Syria, its People, its Army that have resisted under a courageous leadership, with the support of allies and friends, to this savage and unprecedented aggression.

A REAL LEGEND - TIME TO RECONSTRUCT PALMYRA

In A. B. Daniel's book "Zenoubia's Legend", issued by the Parisian Cleric Publishing House, 2005, we can read many details of the life of Queen Zenoubia who ruled the Arabian Kingdom of Palmyra between 266 and 272AD, continued the march of her assassinated husband, King Uzaina, in liberating Syria from the Romans. Palmyra, in Zenoubia's term, reached the culmination of its power and prosperity.

In one of the chapters of his book, Daniel wonders about the nature of this woman who occupied the hearts of her people and the pages of books written about her story. He said: "Was Zenoubia, Queen of Palmyra, a real woman of flesh and blood? She was of sharp intelligence and rare bravery, of charming beauty and great power. Yes she was a queen, but not like other queens. She obliged the Roman Empire to kneel down in respect to her although she was in her thirties. All we know with certainty about Zenoubia is that in 260AD she was the wife of Uzaina, (Udanat) the famous king of Palmyra, who defeated the Persians and was appointed by the Roman Emperor Galliano, in 262, Commander in Chief of the Orient which was under Roman Rule. In ten years time this king could build a new empire, Palmyra, which extended from the Mediterranean in the west to the Euphrates in the east and to Egypt in the west. In 266 King Uzaina was assassinated in Emissa, now Homs, and his wife Zenoubia took his place, fought Rome, and declared independence.

Book fairs mean more to society than just selling and promoting books. They are also a destination to experience the beauty and power of written word as well as bringing together people who love literature and books.

Majd bookshop in Lattakia province has recently held the Arab Book Fair in cooperation with Lattakia’s Culture Directorate and Dar Al-Takween for publication and distribution.