REVIEWS+

A Palace in the Old Village

by Tahar Ben Jelloun
Penguin. Jan. 2011. c.192p. tr. from French by Linda Coverdale. ISBN 9780143118473. pap. $15. F
COPY ISBN
In this modern parable, Mohammed has worked for 40 years in an automobile assembly plant in northern France to support his wife and five children. Now retired, he has built a huge house in his small Moroccan village and is waiting for his children to come and celebrate a holiday with him. As he waits day and night by the only access road leading into the village, he slowly sinks into the sandy soil and dies. The devout Mohammed did not communicate much with his children when they were growing up—perfectly normal in his culture but clearly dysfunctional by the French standards to which his children were accustomed. The tilting "palace" Mohammed has built sums up the family situation: it's "as big as his heart" but has never been occupied.
VERDICT IMPAC Award winner Ben Jelloun (This Blinding Absence of Light) here uses poignant examples to explore the cultural/language divide, with one character eventually concluding, "Over there our values are nothing"—a lament sung lyrically throughout. Beautifully and concisely written and well translated, this novel is a superb addition to the genre of "exile literature."
Reviewed by Lisa Rohrbaugh, National Coll. Lib., Youngstown, OH , Jan 01, 2011
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?