Fleeing his country to escape a fratricidal war unleashed by a dictator he calls The Doctor, a young stage actor sets sail by night, crammed into an all-but-sinking boat. To reach the other shore he must endure yet another war, this one with the sea. After a long journey ending on a crowded holiday beach, our actor at last joins his fellow compatriots at a refugee camp. Once there, he realizes that the women around him have all lost someone dear-a husband, a lover, a son, a brother, a father. To ease their pain, he decides to visit each in turn, taking on the role of the lost ones.
Moroccan writer and artist Youssouf Amine Elalamy has published numerous novels including A Moroccan in New York, Sea-Drinkers (winner of the Prix Grand Atlas), Paris mon bled, Miniatures, Oussama mon amour, Nomad Love, Drôle de printemps, Même pas mort, and Big le grand. In 2020, his novel Such a Lovely War was awarded the Prix Orange for African Literature. His books have been translated into a variety of languages.
John Liechty has translated several of Youssouf Amine Elalamy’s books into English. Of North American origin, he divides his time between Morocco and Spain.
