"A gripping novel by a well-known but under-translated Egyptian author. . . . The novel is translated beautifully—impeccably."—Marilyn Booth, translator of Celestial Bodies, winner of the International Booker Prize
"The novel is at once an absorbing story of village life in Upper Egypt around 1980, and a searing indictment of multiple forms of oppression: women at the hands of their male relatives, the marginalized at the hands of the police, everyone at the hands of the thoroughly corrupt government. . . . A flawless translation."—Kay Heikkinen, translator of Granada: The Complete Trilogy
Description
In a remote Egyptian village, a young doctor arrives to open a long-abandoned clinic. Recently released from prison for political dissent, he’s been exiled from Cairo to this dusty outpost. As he immerses himself among the myriad ailments of the impoverished villagers, from scorpion stings and boils to the debilitating effects of bilharzia, he is drawn to a young nurse who becomes a trusted companion and provides an emotional refuge from his traumatic past. Farah represents everything the city doctor thinks he wants and offers a chance to rebuild his life. But are her ambitions really in line with his? And if this is love, is redemption certain to follow?
In this absorbing novel, Qandil weaves together forbidden love, political corruption, and the clash between tradition and desire. The doctor’s world expands to include al-Jazya, the queen of a marginalized tribe who sees through his pretensions, and a menacing district chief of police reminding him that no one escapes the reach of authority.
Qandil’s novel evokes the beauties and cruelties of life in a small community on the edge of the Nile as our doctor’s journey takes him through the muddy lanes of the village, the verdant fields of maize, and finally a grim quest in the haunting landscape of the White Desert—all the while struggling with an imperfect moral compass.
About the Author
Award-winning Egyptian novelist Mohamed Mansi Qandil worked as a physician before becoming an author and literary critic. He is the author of several short-story collections and novels, including A Cloudy Day on the Western Shore.
R. Neil Hewison served as editorial director of the American University in Cairo Press until his retirement in 2017. He has translated works by Egyptian writers Yusuf Idris, Yusuf Abu Rayya, Gamal al-Ghitani, and Naguib Mahfouz. He lives in the village of Tunis in the Fayoum.
Related Interest
April 2026