Translator Sherif Hetata Language Arabic Published in English 1988 Originally published 1987 Page count 174 ISBN 0413175103 | Country Egypt Publication date 1987 Media type Print (paperback) Genre Novel Publisher Methuen Publishing (UK) | |
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Similar Nawal El Saadawi books, Novels | ||
Fawzia afzal khan speaks on nawal el saadawi s novel the fall of the imam
The Fall of the Imam is a novel by Egyptian writer Nawal El Saadawi published in Arabic in 1987. The English translation by the author's husband Sherif Hetata was published in 1988.
Contents
Plot summary
Set in an unnamed Arabic country, the two main characters are The Imam, the hypocritical leader of the country, full of hatred and spite towards anybody born more fortunate than him, and a beautiful illegitimate orphan, Bint Allah (Daughter of God). The story centres around two extremely grisly events. First, the stoning and mutilation of a woman, performed more to terrorize his opponents and silence his critics than to conform to God’s will, leaves the reader in no doubt as to the brutality of the ruling power. The second event is the assassination of the Imam himself, and the turmoil this brings to the country.