Synopses & Reviews
When a dead woman is discovered in Abu Al Roos, one of Mecca's many alleys, no one will claim the body because they are ashamed by her nakedness. As we follow Detective Nassir's investigation of the case, the secret life of the holy city of Mecca is revealed. Tackling powerful issues with beautiful and evocative writing, Raja Alem reveals a city--and a civilization--at once beholden to brutal customs, and reckoning (uneasily) with new traditions. Told from a variety of perspectives--including that of Abu Al Roos itself--The Dove's Necklace is a virtuosic work of literature, and an ambitious portrait of a changing city that deserves our attention.
Review
Praise for Raja Alem:
"Raja Alem's reputation in contemporary Arabic literature [is] similar to Nabokov's in ours: masterful, erudite, witty, and somewhat dangerous." --BOMB
Synopsis
The stunning novel that explores the secret life of Mecca, by the first female winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
About the Author
Raja Alem was born in Mecca and now lives in Paris. She has received many awards in the Arab world and in Europe for her novels, plays, stories, and other writing. In 2011, she became the first woman to win the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.