'A small dystopian treasure' Independent

'Beautiful, funny, and life-affirming' Publishers Weekly

In an unnamed Middle Eastern city, Fathi, a writer no longer permitted to write, makes his way through a crowd chanting in support of the Leader. Stifled by heat and noise, bullied by the party faithful, Fathi presses on, determined to visit his girlfriend. But over the course of the day it becomes clear the regime has plans for him - and soon he'll be forced to make a terrible choice.

This startlingly funny, urgent novel asks what it means to have a conscience, to laugh, and to endure amidst the roar of tyranny.

Part of the Pushkin Press Classics series: timeless storytelling by icons of literature, hand-picked from around the globe.

Translated by Max Weiss.

Nihad Sirees was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1950. After training and working as an engineer, he became an acclaimed novelist, playwright and screenwriter. Finding himself under increasing surveillance and pressure from the Syrian government, in 2012 he left for Egypt and now lives and works in exile.

Max Weiss is a faculty member at Princeton University, specializing in the culture and history of the Middle East, and an award-winning translator of contemporary Arabic literature.