The Fertility of Evil - by Amara Lakhous (Paperback)

About the Book

"A criminal investigation plumbs the seedy underbelly of Oran in this heady psychological thriller spanning the history of postcolonial Algeria. Oran, July 5, 2018. Algerian Independence Day. Colonel Soltani of the anti-terrorist unit reluctantly gives up his holiday after his superior officer tracks him down at his mistress's house. A former National Liberation Front fighter and Algerian power broker has been found, his throat slit and face mutilated. Set in a post-independence era marred by corruption, this dark, captivating novel unfolds in contrasting landscapes of dilapidated historic quarters and opulent new districts, revealing Algeria's struggle against deceit and betrayal"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A criminal investigation plumbs the seedy underbelly of Oran in this heady psychological thriller spanning the history of postcolonial Algeria.

Oran, July 5, 2018. Independence Day. Colonel Soltani of the Anti-Terrorism Unit reluctantly gives up his holiday after his superior officer tracks him down at his girlfriend's home. A former National Liberation Front fighter and Algerian power broker has been found dead, his throat slit and face mutilated. Pressured to close this high-profile case quickly, Soltani and his team delve into the victim's past from the 1950s, uncovering the secrets of a revolutionary cell whose three remaining members have become prime suspects.

Set in a post-independence era marred by corruption, this dark, captivating novel unfolds in contrasting landscapes of dilapidated historic quarters and opulent new districts, revealing Algeria's struggle against deceit and betrayal.

Review Quotes

"Lakhous...blends a thrilling mystery with an illuminating dive into the history of postcolonial Algeria...At no expense to the tautness of his story or the depth of his characterizations, Lakhous traces a line from the country's promising independence in 1962 to its struggles with terrorism in the '90s and the corruption of the Algerian ruling class. Readers will find a lot to enjoy." --Publishers Weekly

"The novel begins with a murder. Then, as the fictional world gradually expands, Amara Lakhous presents us with a gripping story that reflects Algeria's present reality and the bygone era of revolution against French colonial rule. The author masterfully crafts a fascinating drama with vivid characters whose voices we can almost hear and whose breaths we can practically feel. A beautiful, astonishing, and enjoyable novel. A must-read." --Alaa Al Aswany, author of The Yacoubian Building

"The sun-drenched city of Oran, known to Americans as the setting for Camus's The Plague, comes alive here in a detective novel that doubles as powerful social critique. The genial and all too human Colonel Soltani of the anti-terrorism squad follows the tragic missteps of a group of men and women who fought in solidarity for Algerian freedom only to destroy one another over six decades of secrets and lies. With a novelist's ear for dialogue and an anthropologist's understanding of everyday life, Amara Lakhous invites us into the backrooms of an Algerian elite at war with itself." --Alice Kaplan, author of Seeing Baya: Portrait of an Algerian Artist in Paris

"Part murder mystery, part history of modern Algeria, The Fertility of Evil spins a tale of betrayal and revenge spanning six decades, from the War for Independence from France to the aftermath of the Arab Spring. Alexander Elinson's lively translation of Amara Lakhous's latest novel brings the city of Oran to life, immersing readers in a world in which nationalist militants turned powerbrokers, pro-democracy activists, journalists, Islamists, and cops grapple with the long shadows of the colonial past while navigating a maze of corruption and political cronyism. This engaging take on the postcolonial crime novel will hold special appeal for any reader who is drawn to Algeria's history and politics." --Madeleine Dobie, author of Trading Places: Colonization and Slavery in 18th-Century French Culture

About the Author

Amara Lakhous was born in Algeria in 1970 and lived in Italy for eighteen years before moving to the United States in 2014. A bilingual novelist in Arabic and Italian, he is the author of Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, a bestseller translated into ten languages and adapted into a film in 2010. He is currently a professor in the practice in the Department of Italian Studies at Yale University.

Alexander E. Elinson is a Professor of Arabic and head of the Arabic program at Hunter College of the City University of New York. His translations include Youssef Fadel's A Beautiful White Cat Walks with Me and A Shimmering Red Fish Swims with Me, Yassin Adnan's Hot Maroc, Khadija Marouazi's History of Ash, and Saïd Khatibi's The End of the Sahara.