After Salma becomes pregnant before marriage in her small village in the Levant, the innocent days of childhood vanish forever. She is taken to prison for her own protection. To the sound of her screams, her newborn baby is immediately snatched away. In the heart of Exeter, the most English of cities, Salma learns social etiquette from her landlady and settles down with an English man. But the cries of her child continue to echo deep in her heart. When she can no longer bear not hearing them, she decides to return to her village in search of her daughter. It is a journey that will change everything—and nothing. Set between the olive groves of the East and the rain-swept pavements of Exeter, this novel is a stunning portrayal of the courage of an indomitable woman facing difficult challenges.

"Skillfully woven, interspersed with a sense of irony and social awareness." - Leila Aboulela, author of "The Minaret"

"A beautiful and graceful book, written in tender prose... Salma is an unforgettable character, fierce and loving, moving and sarcastic." - Maggie Gee, author of "The White Family"

Fadia Faqir is a British/Jordanian writer and human rights advocate, especially for women's rights in the Arab world. In 1990, the University of East Anglia awarded her its first PhD in Critical and Creative Writing. She has published a number of short stories, plays, and two novels: "Nisanit" and "Pillars of Salt".

• Publishing House: Dar al-Saqi
• Number of Pages: 344
• Year of Publication: 2009
• ISBN: 9781855162914
• Cover Type: Paperback