The Savage Night

Product DescriptionThe Savage Night collects thirteen stories by Mohammed Dib, one of the founding fathers of North African literature. Whether set in present-day Algeria, depicting the war for independence, or evoking memories of the colonial era, many of the stories in The Savage Night paint a vivid picture of the diverse facets of the Algerian question. Dib's other settings include Latin America, war-torn Sarajevo, and Paris. A major element unifying his work is the unanswered question of human brutality. In the face of our shameful indifference, Dib shows us that senseless violence is a daily reality for many. The Savage Night is the first book-length English translation of Dib's work.Reviewhttp://wordswithoutborders.org/dispatches/article/the-savage-night-by-mohammed-dib/(Words without Borders blog 2010-08-20)“Mohammed Dib's 'Exodus', from his rich, varied collection The Savage Night (Bison), narrates the departure of North Africans from a French village with an irony that should put Michel Whatzisname to shame.”-The Independent (London) (The Independent)“The Algerian war for independence from France, and the sufferings of oppressed peoples in such other theaters of conflict and cruelty as South America and Sarajevo, provide the themes for this exemplary collection (the first booklength English translation of Dib's work) of 13 stories by a prolific and prizewinning veteran (b. 1920) North African writer.The author's homeland is the scene of 'The Detour' (reminiscent of Paul Bowles's icy cautionary tales), as well as, among others, of the superb title story and 'Talio is Dead' (which depicts the agony of exile as movingly as anything in contemporary fiction). But 'The Merry Misfit' (about a Parisian who impulsively bonds with his city's homeless populace) and 'Letter to Mother,' which puts a grim postmodernist spin on the theme of Holocaust guilt, are equally compelling and rewarding. A fine introduction to an unjustly neglected contemporary master.”-Kirkus Reviews (Kirkus Reviews)About the AuthorMohammed Dib was born in western Algeria in 1920. He was exiled in 1959 and took up residence in France, where he still lives. A prolific novelist and poet, he was awarded the Grand Prix de la Francophonie de l'Académie Francaise in 1994-the first person of North African descent to be so honored. C. Dickson is a freelance translator who lives in Grenoble, France. Her translations include Shams Nadir's The Astrolabe of the Sea.
Author: Dib, Mohammed

Publisher: Bison Books

Binding: Paperback

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0803266200

ISBN-13: 9780803266209