Yemen.

A simply told but eloquent coming of age story of a boy kept as a hostage in order to ensure his family's political cooperation. The strategy of imprisoning, forcibly employing, or marrying the adversary's children is reasonably common in the world. Often told from the perspective of the hostage, this genre usually include a critique of the captors' corruption, and Dammaj's account, with its pious boy narrator and decadent ruling class, is no exception. The tale takes place not from the beginning of his captivity, but from his entry into servitude in the governor's palace to his escape. It is framed by his friendship with a helpful and sophisticated duwaydar (boy-servant) who, perhaps as symbolic punishment for his participation in the immorality of the household, dies of tuberculosis.

I appreciated Dammaj's use of language, which is a testament to the skill of the translators, and the glimpse of both the political machinations of a now-defunct culture and of the details of daily life in the Yemen of that era. ( )

Absolutely brilliant novel of a young Yemeni's coming-of-age experience, this is perhaps the only full-length Yemeni novel translated to English by a native Yemeni set in Yemen. Simple, taut, emotive, arduous and mysterious, the book is all too true and heart-wrenching. The main character has been taken from his family by the governing Imam--a not uncommon practice in mid 20th century Yemen- and is 'loaned' while a hostage outside of his religious servitude to help in the estate of regional governor working for the Crown Price. As a 'duwaydar' the protagonist acts as messenger boy, valet, with other unnamed duties. With the 'handsome duwaydar' as a foil, the lead character ends up in the employ of Sharifa Hafsa, the beautiful untouchable divorcee of the estate and relative of the governor. A tangled relationship ensues set in the backdrop of revolution, intrigue and illness--as the protagonist's pride scorches those around him. ( )