A social, humane novel that embodies fraternal solidarity in the most difficult situations of life, and depicts the nobility of sacrifices in life’s various pitfalls and ways to overcome them. It is a bright picture of family compassion between siblings at all stages of life, in the presence and absence of parents.
Qasim, a lost young man, is forced to assume identities he did not choose, and always pays the price for mistakes he did not commit. But he finds an escape from his life and circumstances when the doctor, Ramzi Al-Nawawi, suggests that he travel with him to the country of the leader, “Big Boss,” to perform a mummification operation on the leader’s young daughter, who died under mysterious circumstances.
Their arrival is accompanied by a mysterious epidemic spreading in the country that only attacks girls. Ramzi finds his opportunity to propose a project to “decorate” the deceased women, and he is soon faced with accusations and accusations. However, Qasim, who is drawn after the doctor like a bewitched person, and under his illusion, is unable to confirm the truth of what is being said, nor to deny it. Does the doctor really have anything to do with the epidemic?
This time, breaking into a new world, Maryse Conde leads us from one mystery to another, in a breathless plot that strangely combines issues of identity, race, and religion, to tell us about the “flowers of darkness,” whom Ramsay believes are the only ones worthy of desire.
The poetry of Sheikh Sultan bin Salem Al Qasimi was a directed speech, a documented history, a drawing with words, pure emotion, and mature thought. His poetry was visions of light and a lamp in a niche. It deserves to be read, studied, and followed, especially since it depicts an era in which reading and writing became scarce.
“Adham” was born multiple times, which is difficult to count. And in each of his births, he carries a different personality and another life, to the point where he can be described as multiple versions of a single human being, or to borrow what he says about himself: “I am all formulations. Open endings and closed beginnings. I am the ultimate formula. I am everyone, women and men, a part.” A masculine part in a feminine personality, and a feminine part in a masculine personality. I am the one who desires immortality.
In this novel, Maha Hassan reaches the height of experimentation in writing, ignoring the rules, surrendering herself to the pleasure of storytelling, to the philosophy and philosophies of her hero, trying to write his biography in his endless births.
