Resource Title

In the Country of Men

Summary

Suleiman is a nine-year-old boy living in Tripoli, Libya. The book documents Suleiman’s life that is embroiled between a father whose clandestine anti-Gaddafi activities bring about searches, stalking’s and telephone hacking by Col. Gaddafi’s state police, and a vulnerable young mother who resorts to alcohol to bury her anxiety and anger.

The only people he has to turn to are his neighbour Kareem, and his father’s best friend Moosa. The book provides a gripping description of Libya under Gaddafi’s terror regime, and a beautiful narration of ordinary people’s lives as they try to survive the political oppression.

Resource Details

Description

In the Country of Men is a novel about relationships between friends, spouses, comrades and in particularl, parents and their children. Suleiman seeks answers to his many questions, but neither his father, who appears never to be home, nor his mother, who turns to alcohol as a result.

It is a story of great love, fear and repression, in particular under the oppressive dictatorship of Col. Gadaffi.

Available from:

In the Country of Men is widely available from most bookshops. For example:

  • Cost €7.99 ebook | online shop Easons

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An 8 page teacher notes document has been produced to support educators in using this book (document produced by Random House). Download the teacher support resource PDF (172KB)