What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hostage
A novel that tells a lot about the history of Yemen under the ruling of the Imam . The author tells about the relationships at the time (before 1962)
between the people in the ruler's palace ....stories of poverty , lack of freedom , sexual suppress and people being the ruler's and at the same time their own hostages !
between the people in the ruler's palace ....stories of poverty , lack of freedom , sexual suppress and people being the ruler's and at the same time their own hostages !
First published January 1, 1984
5 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 29, 2014
This book was on the reading list for my Arabic Literature Book Club.
Its theme didn't immediately speak to me: a young boy is kept as a hostage by the Imam to ensure his family's political loyalty. I have to admit I didn't know that much about Yemeni history, but it's set in North Yemen and apparently in the early fourties. Luckily the book is beautifully written and I was immediately drawn into it.
Tradition dictated hostages should be well taken care off and he soon finds his place in the household. He strikes up a friendship with the duwaydar (a house boy), who teaches him all there is to know. Eventually the hostage becomes a duwaydar as well, a role he voluntarily takes upon himself. In a rather indirect manner (yet utterly clear), the reader learns that providing the female member of the household with sexual gratification is also part of the job. He manages to emotionally connect with Sharifa Hafsa, a sister of the Governor, in spite of the social distance between them. When his friend the duwaydar becomes ill and eventually dies, she seems to be the only capable of reaching him.
As the country seems to be falling apart, the hostage finally manages to get away.
Its theme didn't immediately speak to me: a young boy is kept as a hostage by the Imam to ensure his family's political loyalty. I have to admit I didn't know that much about Yemeni history, but it's set in North Yemen and apparently in the early fourties. Luckily the book is beautifully written and I was immediately drawn into it.
Tradition dictated hostages should be well taken care off and he soon finds his place in the household. He strikes up a friendship with the duwaydar (a house boy), who teaches him all there is to know. Eventually the hostage becomes a duwaydar as well, a role he voluntarily takes upon himself. In a rather indirect manner (yet utterly clear), the reader learns that providing the female member of the household with sexual gratification is also part of the job. He manages to emotionally connect with Sharifa Hafsa, a sister of the Governor, in spite of the social distance between them. When his friend the duwaydar becomes ill and eventually dies, she seems to be the only capable of reaching him.
As the country seems to be falling apart, the hostage finally manages to get away.
October 11, 2012
absolutely amazing ... Now I know so many things about my country from this novel ...things i didn't even imagine that they ever existed .
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews