khadra - Nan A. Talese
2006 Shortlist

The Swallows of Kabul

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

Since the ascendancy of the Taliban the lives of Mosheen and his beautiful wife, Zunaira, have been gradually destroyed. Mosheen’s dream of becoming a diplomat has been shattered and Zunaira can no longer even appear on the streets of Kabul unveiled.  Atiq is a jailer who guards those who have been condemned to death; the darkness of prison and thewretchedness of his job have seeped into his soul.  Atiq’s wife, Musarrat, is suffering from an illness no doctor can cure. The lives of these four people become inexplicably intertwined, through death and imprisonment to passion and extraordinary self-sacrifice. The Swallows of Kabul is an astounding and elegiac novel of four people
struggling to hold on to their humanity in a place where pleasure is a deadly sin and death has become routine.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Yasmina
Khadra

Yasmina Khadra is the author of more than 20 novels, including The Swallows of Kabul and The Attack, both shortlisted for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Khadra’s work has been published in 45 countries. He has twice been honoured by the Académie française, winning both the Médaille de vermeil and Grand Prix de littérature.

Yasmina Khadra is the author of more than 20 novels, including The Swallows of Kabul and The Attack, both shortlisted for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Khadra’s work has been published in 45 countries. He has twice been honoured by the Académie française, winning both the Médaille de vermeil and Grand Prix de littérature.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR John
Cullen

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
05/05/2005
Country
Algeria
Original Language
French
Publisher
Vintage
Translator
John Cullen

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