The Harafish

New York: Anchor Books, April 1995. Trade Paperback. Very Good+. Interior tanned, but unmarked. Spine straight, tight and uncreased. Covers clean. Slight dogear to top front corner. Not from a library. No remainder mark. Not clipped. 406 pages.

An epic novel that chronicles the dramatic history of the al-Nagi family: a family that moves, over many generations, from the height of power and glory to the depths of decadence and decay. The Harafish begins with the tale of Ashur al-Nagi, a man who grows from humble beginnings to become a great leader, a legend among his people. Generation after generation, however, Ashur's descendants grow further from his legendary example. They lose touch with their origins as they amass and then squander large fortunes, marry prostitutes when they marry at all, and develop rivalries that end in death. The community's upper class keeps a watchful eye on the descendants of al-Nagi for fear of losing their privileges, but they find no threat of another such as Ashur. Not, that is, until the al-Nagi who, like his noble ancestor, finds his power once again from among The Harafish, or the common people. Through the strength of their numbers and their passion, the glory of the name of al-Nagi is restored.