Abdelkrim Ghallab was a Moroccan political journalist and novelist whose work delved into the complexities of Moroccan society and identity. Through his novels and short stories, he explored the intricate relationships between tradition and modernity, capturing the ever-shifting landscape of Moroccan life. Ghallab's writing style is characterized by its keen observation and poetic language, allowing him to craft vivid portraits of characters and settings. His literary contributions lie in his ability to articulate the nuances of the Moroccan experience, adding to the broader Arabic literary canon.
This pioneering post-colonial novel was the first break-through Moroccan novel to be written in native Moroccan Arabic. The story follows two generations of the al-Tihamis family whose members characterise distinctive aspects of Moroccan society, and whose lives reflect the profound social changes taking place during the period.