Product Description

Described by Tennessee Williams as "a true document of human desperation, shattering in its impact", Choukri's autobiography, of which this is the first volume, speaks for an entire generation of North Africans. Born in the Rif, Choukri moved with his family to Tangiers at a time of great famine. His childhood was spent in abject poverty, and eight of his brothers and sisters died of malnutrition or neglect. During his adolescence, described here with its attendant erotic escapades, Choukri worked for a time as servant to a French family. He then returned to Tangiers, where he experienced the violence of the 1952 independent riots. At the age of 20 and still illiterate, he took the decision to learn to read and write classical Arabic - a decision which transformed his life. After mastering the language, he became a teacher and a writer, finally being awarded the chair of Arabic Literature at Ibn Batuta College in Tangiers. Today, he is one of North Africa's most respected and widely read authors.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1206004 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-14
• Original language: Arabic
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 152 pages

Review
'A true document of human desperation, shattering in its impact.' Tennessee Williams

The Independent, July 16, 2006
Five stars ... Achingly elegant ... Choukri's irrepressible, ultimately indomitable spirit is most touching and human.

About the Author
Mohamed Choukri is one of North Africa's most controversial and widely read authors. The story of Choukri's life is continued in Streetwise, also published by Saqi Books. Choukri died of cancer in 2003.

Customer Reviews

Bitter truth
If you are Moroccan or North African, you'll love this book. It was particularly eye-opening for me as a Moroccan born & bought up in London to read about the poverty and hardships Mohamed Choukri faced as a young man trying to find his way in Tangiers.

There are many funny parts to this book as well and you always have the feeling that he'll be alright.

I loved this book & have read it twice, its a book that makes me feel full of hope. Mohamed Choukri has come through these hardships, dealt with the death of his sisters, educated himself and is a great role-model for any young man in Morocco today.

I would strongly reccommend this book to anyone.

for bread alone
this book of choukri should have been titled ''For sex and bread alone instead of 'For bread alone'.I heard that he is a famous writer in marocco but you can be famaous even you are not a good writer which happen in this case.The life and moral of poor people is portrated in a very bad light.Of course it has some true on it but i did not find nothing good towards the poor class excpet naming them as thieves,dirty,liers,violent.etc,etc all the bad things you can find.Reading the whole book you will soon realise that the main character in words choukri spends all his childhood and adoleshence with prostitutes rather then trying to live a decent and honest life. Do not buy this book unless you are looking for a soft porno book.I am very dissapointed at myself for spending around £3 towards this book.If i could rate the book with no stars if i could but it is not possible.