Awards

• Winner of Amadou-Kourouma Prize 2016

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9781910213797

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Reviews

Much of the appeal of The Desert and the Drum is in the presentation of local color, Beyrouk presenting contemporary Mauritania, on its smallest and most isolated scale as well as on the bustling modern-metropolitan one, very nicely through Rayhana and her experiences. So much she experiences is almost beyond words- but that goes just as much for her emotional experiences and her wide-eyed fumbling efforts to express all this that is new and unknown to her make for an impressive narrative. --M.A.Orthofer, The Complete Review The narrative bristles with interesting characters and essential questions. Also, through Rayhana's gaze, we can see the strangeness of our own contemporary urban lives afresh. --Marcia Lynx Qualey, Qantara Grounded in the traditions that drive it and yet brimming with observations that are true wherever you read them, the novel bears the hallmark of great literature, making one little corner of the world an everywhere in which all manner of people can meet. The Desert and the Drum is an exciting and compelling addition to the anglophone library. --Ann Morgan, A Year of Reading the World

Beyrouk contrasts the smallest, most isolated Mauritania with a bustling modern-metropolitan one. Rayhana's experiences are almost beyond words, and her wide-eyed, fumbling efforts to express all that is new to her make for an impressive narrative. --M.A.Orthofer, The Complete Review Grounded in the traditions that drive it and yet brimming with observations that are true wherever you read them, the novel bears the hallmark of great literature, making one little corner of the world an everywhere in which everyone can meet...an exciting and compelling addition to the anglophone library. --Ann Morgan, A Year of Reading the World The narrative bristles with interesting characters and essential questions. Through Rayhana's gaze, we see the strangeness of our own contemporary urban lives afresh. --Marcia Lynx Qualey, Qantara

"""Beyrouk contrasts the smallest, most isolated Mauritania with a bustling modern-metropolitan one. Rayhana's experiences are almost beyond words, and her wide-eyed, fumbling efforts to express all that is new to her make for an impressive narrative. --M.A.Orthofer, The Complete Review ""Grounded in the traditions that drive it and yet brimming with observations that are true wherever you read them, the novel bears the hallmark of great literature, making one little corner of the world an everywhere in which everyone can meet...an exciting and compelling addition to the anglophone library. --Ann Morgan, A Year of Reading the World ""The narrative bristles with interesting characters and essential questions. Through Rayhana's gaze, we see the strangeness of our own contemporary urban lives afresh. --Marcia Lynx Qualey, Qantara"

the narrative bristles with interesting characters and essential questions. Also, through Rayhana's gaze, we can see the strangeness of our own contemporary urban lives afresh. Marcia Lynx Qualey in Qantara Grounded in the traditions that drive it and yet brimming with observations that are true wherever you read them, the novel bears the hallmark of great literature, making one little corner of the world an everywhere in which all manner of people can meet. The Desert and the Drum is an exciting and compelling addition to the anglophone library. Ann Morgan in A Year of Reading the World Much of the appeal of The Desert and the Drum is in the presentation of local color, Beyrouk presenting contemporary Mauritania, on its smallest and most isolated scale as well as on the bustling modern-metropolitan one, very nicely through Rayhana and her experiences. So much she experiences is almost beyond words- but that goes just as much for her emotional experiences and her wide-eyed fumbling efforts to express all this that is new and unknown to her make for an impressive narrative. M.A.Orthofer in The Complete Review

The narrative bristles with interesting characters and essential questions. Through Rayhana's gaze, we see the strangeness of our own contemporary urban lives afresh. --Marcia Lynx Qualey, Qantara Grounded in the traditions that drive it and yet brimming with observations that are true wherever you read them, the novel bears the hallmark of great literature, making one little corner of the world an everywhere in which everyone can meet...an exciting and compelling addition to the anglophone library. --Ann Morgan, A Year of Reading the World Beyrouk contrasts the smallest, most isolated Mauritania with a bustling modern-metropolitan one. Rayhana's experiences are almost beyond words, and her wide-eyed, fumbling efforts to express all that is new to her make for an impressive narrative. --M.A.Orthofer, The Complete Review

Author Information

Mbarek Ould Beyrouk (Beyrouk) was born in Atar, Mauritania, in 1957. A journalist, he founded the country's first ever independent newspaper, Mauritanie Demain, in 1988 and he is currently an advisor to the President of the Republic. He has written four books, including three novels: Et le ciel a oublie de pleuvoir (2006); Le Griot de l'emir, (2013) and The Desert and The Drum (Le Tambour des larmes, 2015). Rachael McGill is a playwright, novelist and translator. Her translations from French include many plays and one novel The Desert and The Drum by Mbarek Ould Beyrouk. Her novel Fair Trade Heroin will be published by Dedalus in 2020.

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