Saleh remains clinging to his roots, staying in his village which is, or nearly is, empty of its people. The only thing that crosses his mind is to visit the cemetery from time to time, and a state of depression overtakes him that never leaves. Khalf the madman once tells him: 'May God guide you... estrangement is within you, whether you stay or leave,' but he insists and clings to staying as long as there is a madman to confront the madness that has afflicted the village.

In 'The First Estrangement,' a world where reality mixes with imagination unfolds. The author transports us through the events of a historical period during the great transformation the region witnessed during World War II, extending to the 1948 war, the establishment of Israel, the displacement of Palestinians, the emergence of labor movements, and the beginning of the formation of the modern national project. These events stem from 'the experience of the village of Jubail on the eastern coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but they could apply to any other Gulf village.'

• Publishing House: Dar Al Saqi for Publishing and Distribution
• Author: Abdullah Hamad Al-Moajil
• Year of Publication: 2000
• Number of Pages: 432
• ISBN: 9781855165458