'A mesmerizing and achingly beautiful novel that will linger in your memory indefinitely' Jan Ransom, author of The Whale Tatto

'Impressive... It is rare to read such a masterful, thrilling debut' L'Express

'A debut that reads like a classic' Le Figaro

A heartbreaking tale of impossible love in late-twentieth century Egypt.

Cairo, 1980s. Tarek's whole life is laid out for him. A doctor like his father, he has taken over the family medical practice, married his childhood sweetheart and is well respected in society. When he opens a clinic in a disadvantaged area of the city, he meets Ali, a young man who is free from the societal pressures that govern Tarek's life. This chance encounter will change everything, throwing Tarek's marriage, career and his entire existence into question.

From bustling Cairo to the harsh winters of Montréeacute;al, from the reign of Nasser to the dawn of a new century, Tarek wanders and reminisces. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, someone is compiling the chapters of his story . . .