Set in 1930s Tunisia, Zbaida, a young woman from the progressive Rassaa family, is accused of a forbidden affair with Tahar Haddad—a labor activist and outspoken advocate for women's rights—her marriage into the conservative, patriarchal Ennaifer family is thrown into turmoil. The accusation rocks not just two of Tunis’s most prominent families but also a nation caught between modern ideals and rigid tradition.
Told through the eyes of eleven narrators over several generations, the novel weaves a rich tapestry of conflicting memories, buried truths, and unresolved emotions. As each character revisits the events of that fateful December night in 1935, a calamity of noble houses reveals how personal lives are shaped—and sometimes shattered—by history, class divisions, and the struggle for progress. Ghenim’s powerful narrative invites readers into a world of intrigue, heartbreak, and resilience in a society on the cusp of transformation.
A finalist for the international prize for Arabic Fiction
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