The Story of My Life by Fadhma Aith Mansour Amrouche (English) Paperback Book

The Nile on eBay   The Story of My Life by Fadhma Aith Mansour Amrouche, Caroline Stone

This moving autobiography of a Berber woman from the village of Tizi-Hibel in the Kabilie Mountains of Algeria is unique on a number of levels. Illegitimate, Fadhma Amrouche would have been killed with her mother to preserve the honour of the family, but for the intervention of the French authorities. Because of this, she received an education and eventually married a Christian convert, although they remained closely linked to their families of origin. Her account of battling poverty, illness and exile is a gripping story. Fadhma's fight for an education in a world of almost universal female illiteracy was nothing short of heroic. She and her children moved from the harsh, fixed hierarchies of a traditional Berber village with archaic means of production to become cosmopolitan Parisians. The journey was filled with heartbreak, and Fadhma never overcame her nostalgia for what she had lost, but never doubted that the journey had to be made. Her unassuming narrative throws an unforgettable light on Berber life, women's position in traditional societies and the tensions between governed and governors in the colonial world.

FORMATPaperback LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

This moving autobiography of a Berber woman from the village of Tizi-Hibel in the Kabilie Mountains of Algeria is unique on a number of levels. Illegitimate, Fadhma Amrouche would have been killed with her mother to preserve the honour of the family, but for the intervention of the French authorities. Because of this, she received an education and eventually married a Christian convert, although they remained closely linked to their families of origin. Her account of battling poverty, illness and exile is a gripping story. Fadhma's fight for an education in a world of almost universal female illiteracy was nothing short of heroic. She and her children moved from the harsh, fixed hierarchies of a traditional Berber village with archaic means of production to become cosmopolitan Parisians. The journey was filled with heartbreak, and Fadhma never overcame her nostalgia for what she had lost, but never doubted that the journey had to be made. Her unassuming narrative throws an unforgettable light on Berber life, women's position in traditional societies and the tensions between governed and governors in the colonial world.

Author Biography

Caroline Stone was educated at Cambridge and the University of Kyoto, Japan. She has lived and worked largely in Rome and Seville, with periods in Tunisia and Saudi Arabia and Cambridge. Interests include textiles - with a book and several catalogues on Chinese export embroideries published in Spanish - and travel accounts, particularly those written by people who don't normally write books - the poor, women, slaves... Work in progress includes a cookery book and family history written for Syrian Christian friends in Kerala and an edition of letters written by a family connection: the composer, and suffragette Ethel Smyth.

Review

'Written in an intimate and frank voice [it] weaves personal memories with the sagas of family members, important family events and details of traditional village life. With excellent introductions on the Berbers, Christianity in the Kabylie, and the Amrouche family.' Kay Hardy Campbell, Saudi Aramco World

Details ISBN1843822164 Year 2009 ISBN-10 1843822164 ISBN-13 9781843822165 Media Book Format Paperback Publication Date 2009-09-30 Short Title STORY OF MY LIFE Language English DEWEY 965.04092 Illustrations black & white illustrations Imprint Hardinge Simpole Publishing Country of Publication United Kingdom Place of Publication London Series Travellers in the Wider Levant Pages 256 UK Release Date 2009-09-30 AU Release Date 2009-09-30 NZ Release Date 2009-09-30 Author Caroline Stone Publisher Zeticula Ltd Translator Caroline Stone Audience General We've got this

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