Syrians have longed for the ordinary life that eluded them for decades. When President Bashar Assad was unexpectedly overthrown in December 2024, they celebrated the end of a dictatorial dynasty. But as they strive for post-Assad justice, they must grapple with the legacy of a fight for freedom that started many years earlier.

Damascus-born Rime Allaf tells the poignant story of a struggle for dignity that has shaken the world. When Hafez Assad's violent rule ended in 2000, many believed his son would bring change. Instead, Bashar spent his first decade in power meddling regionally and reneging on promises of domestic reform. When Syrians finally rose up in revolution in 2011, they were mercilessly crushed by the regime—with extensive Iranian and Russian support—and abandoned by the foreign powers claiming to support them. The consequences of these events still reverberate internationally, in the largest refugee crisis since World War Two and in a new global order that has weakened democracy and privileged authoritarians.

Combining expert analysis, evocative storytelling and the author's deep personal connection with the region, It Started in Damascus paints an intimate portrait of a devastated society and a resilient people determined to find their peace.