Retired teacher Pius Fernandez receives from one of his students an old notebook found in the back room of a shop in East Africa. It turns out to be the diary of a British officer who lived seven decades ago in the small town of Kikono. The diary captivates the teacher, and he tries to recreate the world in it, and breathe life into the souls trapped there, discovering a dark, burning secret, the secret of a simple man named “Pippa” whose life, after his marriage to “Mariamo,” became painfully linked to the life of the English officer. As Fernandez follows the diary's trail, he himself eventually becomes one of the tales of the Book of Secrets.
In this novel, which won the Giller Prize in its first edition, in 1994, Vasanji writes an influential work rich in questions, about a very rich and complex world, vibrant with colorful images, against the backdrop of great historical changes.
The book was published in cooperation with Ettijahat Foundation - Independent Culture.
It includes the book presented to him by the Syrian political science researcher Salam Al-Kawakibi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the “Ettijahat” Foundation. Independent Culture,” on 253 pages, and contains three papers, the first of which deals with: “Cultural Mechanisms and Cultural Production in a Period of Crisis.” Syria, Iraq and Lebanon,” prepared by academic researcher Dr. Mary Elias. The second research deals with: “The role of culture and arts in achieving reconciliation and civil peace in countries that witnessed violent conflicts,” completed by researcher Rama Najma. While the third research, which was completed by the “Syrian Center for Policy Research,” touched on “developing cultural structures in Syria.”
An overview of the book (The Heart and the Change by Al-Asma’i, Study and Compilation)
This book is concerned with collecting the texts of the lost book (The Heart and the Change by Al-Asma’i), through extrapolation of the Arabic linguistic heritage, relying on strict standards and controls in selecting these texts, and arranging and organizing them according to a solid scientific approach. To be close to the image that the author left, may God have mercy on him, it is preceded by a detailed study of the author and the author. It is accompanied by technical indexes to serve the reader. Contributing to bringing out a treasure of that heritage, most of which was lost for various reasons. And to revive the legacy of a unique science of linguists who had a great impact on this blessed language.
. يعد هذا الكتاب من أهم الأعمال الروائية في الأدب العربي المعاصر، وقد حقق نجاحًا كبيرًا في الوطن العربي. يتناول الكتاب قصة حياة شاب يحمل اسم خالد والذي يعاني من مشاكل نفسية واجتماعية، ويجد نفسه في مواجهة مشكلات كثيرة في حياته.
