At a time when global narratives around Syria are too often limited to conflict and crisis, Syrian-born author Siwar Al Assad is carving a different path—one rooted in literary depth, emotional truth, and cultural reflection. Through his critically acclaimed novels written in both French and English, Al Assad is earning recognition as an authentic voice from the region, drawing readers into stories that explore love, exile, identity, and the lasting impact of memory.

Al Assad’s debut novel, A Coeur Perdu, received high praise in France for its elegant style and introspective storytelling. Its English adaptation, Guard Thy Heart, brings readers into the inner world of Paul Ollenson—a UN lawyer and heart transplant survivor navigating personal loss and emotional reckoning. Set in Southern France, the novel transcends the conventions of romantic fiction, unfolding instead as a layered exploration of healing, displacement, and unresolved love.

“Siwar Al Assad’s books stand apart because they don’t try to dramatize sufferings—they humanize it,” said one early reviewer. “He writes about what lingers beneath the surface: grief, memory, and the parts of us we try to leave behind.”

In Palmyre Pour Toujours, Al Assad shifts from fiction to cultural reflection, offering a personal tribute to the ancient city of Palmyra—once a UNESCO World Heritage site, now scarred by war. The book not only honors Syria’s architectural and historical legacy but also speaks to a broader loss of cultural identity, especially for Syrians in exile.

While Al Assad avoids overt political messaging in his novels, the emotional terrain of his stories is unmistakably shaped by displacement and historical silence. Born in Damascus in 1975 and forced into exile at age nine, Al Assad was educated in Switzerland, Great Britain, and at the prestigious Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris. Fluent in Arabic, French, English, and Spanish, he writes with a cross-cultural perspective rarely found in modern romantic fiction.

Now based in London, Al Assad also leads Arab News Network and Aramea Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on humanitarian advocacy and cultural preservation in Syrian and other war-torn regions. Though his family name connects him to Syria’s political elite, Al Assad has consistently used his platform to promote dialogue, peace, and literary truth over ideology.

His unique positioning—as both an insider and an exile—makes his novels especially resonant for readers seeking more than headlines. They seek meaning.

About the Author:

Siwar Al Assad is a multilingual Syrian author known for A Coeur Perdu, Guard Thy Heart, Le Temps d’une Saison, and Palmyre Pour Toujours. He is the founder of Aramea Foundation and serves as the director of Arab News Network. His fiction and nonfiction work explore themes of identity, memory, exile, and emotional recovery.

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