The Dove's Necklace. Questo articolo non è disponibile.The Dove's Necklace

When a dead woman is discovered in Abu Al Roos, one of Mecca's many alleys, no one will claim the body because they are ashamed by her nakedness. As we follow the investigation of the case, the secret life of the holy city of Mecca is revealed. Tackling powerful issues with beautiful and evocative writing, Raja Alem reveals a city and a civilisation at once beholden to brutal customs, and reckoning (uneasily) with new traditions. Told from a variety of perspectives including that of Abu Al Roos itself The Dove's Necklace is a virtuosic work of literature, and an ambitious portrait of a changing city that deserves our attention.

'A surreal and meditative take on a murder mystery' Deborah Smith, Guardian summer reads

'A story the likes of which you have never read before' Elle

'Raja Alem excels at revealing the Islamic heartland that the media alludes to without ever really telling us anything' Catherine Simon, Le Monde

'A work of brilliant virtuosity... a rich tapestry of interwoven traditions, customs, history, ancient beliefs and myths' Banipal: The Magazine of Modern Arab Literature

'Raja Alem's reputation in contemporary Arabic literature [is] similar to Nabokov's in ours: masterful, erudite, witty, and somewhat dangerous' Bomb

'The real mystery here is Mecca itself, with the intricacies of its customs and new ways of life seen through many lenses . . . This intriguing narrative style . . . fits the mysteries of Mecca' Booklist

Masterly crafted and perfectly paced... an intense, near-spiritual experience' Rachel Leon, Chicago Review of Books

'A captivating novel... that will blow readers away with every word' Danielle Urban, Manhattan Book Review 5 star review

'Illuminates a world many readers have no chance of ever experiencing' Siobhan Fallon, New York Journal of Books

'The first woman to win the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, blends surrealism and mystery' Publishers Weekly

'A great voice from the Muslim world... decorated with many international awards' --Frankfurter Allgemeine

'Ms. Alem tinges each page with the musky, byzantine ambience of Mecca' --Lori Feathers, Words Without Borders

'The Dove's Necklace can be described as noir, but it's a lot more than that... A magnificent, desperate work' --Lionel Clément, Livre de lire