Why a Booktrail?
1930s – 1940s A country in turmoil, members of two important upper-class families of Tunis intertwine.
A Calamity of Noble Houses
What you need to know before your trail
Tunisia, 1930s. Against the backdrop of a country in turmoil, in search of its identity, the lives and destinies of the members of two important upper-class families of Tunis intertwine: the Ennaifer family, with a rigidly conservative and patriarchal mentality, and the Rassaa, open-minded and progressive.
One terrible night in December 1935, the destiny of both families changes forever when Zbaida Ali Rassaa, the young wife of Mohsen Ennaifer, is accused of having had a clandestine love affair with Tahar Haddad, an intellectual of humble origins known for his union activism and support for women’s rights. The events of that fateful night are told by eleven different narrators, members of the two families, who recall them in different historical moments, from the 1940s to the present day. The result is a complex mosaic of secrets, memories, accusations, regrets, and emotions, taking the reader on an exciting journey through the stories of individuals caught up in the upheavals of history.
Locations
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Tunis 1930s
Tunis is the capital and largest city of Tunisia, located on the northern African coast, and is known for its historical Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its proximity to the ancient ruins of Carthage
The events of that fateful night are told by eleven different narrators, members of the two families, who recall them in different historical moments, from the 1940s to the present day.
The result is a complex mosaic of secrets, memories, accusations, regrets, and emotions, taking the reader on an exciting journey through the stories of individuals caught up in the upheavals of history.
BookTrail Boarding Pass: A Calamity of Noble Houses
Destination/location: Tunisia. Tunis Author/guide: Amira Ghenim Departure Time: 1930s – 1940s
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