World Literature: Amara Lakhous’s “The Fertility of Evil” (Algeria/Italy)

Immerse yourself in the history of postcolonial Algeria as a criminal investigation plumbs the seedy underbelly of Oran. This April, bestselling author Amara Lakhous comes to City of Asylum to share his dark, captivating new psychological thriller, The Fertility of Evil. Amara is joined in conversation by moderator Anderson Tepper. 

Set the scene: Oran, Algeria. July 5, 2018. Independence Day.

Colonel Soltani of the Anti-Terrorism Unit reluctantly gives up his holiday after his superior officer tracks him down at his girlfriend’s home. A former National Liberation Front fighter and Algerian power broker has been found dead, his throat slit and face mutilated. Pressured to close this high-profile case quickly, Soltani and his team delve into the victim’s past from the 1950s, uncovering the secrets of a revolutionary cell whose three remaining members have become prime suspects.

In a post-independence era marred by corruption, The Fertility of Evil unfolds in contrasting landscapes of dilapidated historic quarters and opulent new districts, revealing Algeria’s struggle against deceit and betrayal.

Join Amara and Anderson after the program for a public reception with light refreshments, and sink your teeth into the intricacies and juicy details of this thrilling new work.

You can purchase a copy of Amara’s book, The Fertility of Evil, at City of Asylum Bookstore.

About the Author:

Amara Lakhous was born in Algeria in 1970 and lived in Italy for 18 years before moving to the United States in 2014. A bilingual novelist in Arabic and Italian, he is the author of Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, a bestseller translated into 10 languages and adapted into a film in 2010. He is currently a professor in the practice in the Department of Italian Studies at Yale University.

About the Moderator:

Anderson Tepper is a guest curator of PEN America’s World Voices Festival and a longstanding member of the Brooklyn Book Festival’s Literary Council and international committee. Formerly of Vanity Fair, his writing on books and authors has appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, and World Literature Today, among other publications. Anderson also serves on City of Asylum’s Advisory Board.

About Your Visit: 

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