The Water Thief
From the award-winning author of Ishmael’s Oranges comes a searing novel with a profound moral conflict at its heart.

When a heart attack kills his father, young architect Nick abandons his comfortable London life to volunteer abroad for a year – a last chance to prove himself, and atone for old sins.

But in a remote village on the edge of the Sahara, dangerous currents soon engulf him: a simmering family conflict, hidden violence and dangerous fanaticism. An illicit attraction to his host’s lonely wife soon threatens both of their worlds. But when a deadly drought descends it brings an irrevocable choice: should he take matters into his own hands? Or let fate run its course? His decision has life-changing consequences for them all.
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The Water Thief
From the award-winning author of Ishmael’s Oranges comes a searing novel with a profound moral conflict at its heart.

When a heart attack kills his father, young architect Nick abandons his comfortable London life to volunteer abroad for a year – a last chance to prove himself, and atone for old sins.

But in a remote village on the edge of the Sahara, dangerous currents soon engulf him: a simmering family conflict, hidden violence and dangerous fanaticism. An illicit attraction to his host’s lonely wife soon threatens both of their worlds. But when a deadly drought descends it brings an irrevocable choice: should he take matters into his own hands? Or let fate run its course? His decision has life-changing consequences for them all.
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The Water Thief

The Water Thief

by Claire Hajaj
The Water Thief
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The Water Thief

The Water Thief

by Claire Hajaj

Overview

From the award-winning author of Ishmael’s Oranges comes a searing novel with a profound moral conflict at its heart.

When a heart attack kills his father, young architect Nick abandons his comfortable London life to volunteer abroad for a year – a last chance to prove himself, and atone for old sins.

But in a remote village on the edge of the Sahara, dangerous currents soon engulf him: a simmering family conflict, hidden violence and dangerous fanaticism. An illicit attraction to his host’s lonely wife soon threatens both of their worlds. But when a deadly drought descends it brings an irrevocable choice: should he take matters into his own hands? Or let fate run its course? His decision has life-changing consequences for them all.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781786073945
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Publication date: 09/11/2018
Edition description: Hardback
Pages: 352
Product dimensions: 5.75(w) x 8.85(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Claire Hajaj has spent her life building bridges between two worlds, sharing both Palestinian and Jewish heritage. Her childhood was split between the deserts of the Middle East and the gardens of rural England. She has lived on four continents and worked for the United Nations in war zones from Burma to Baghdad. A former journalist for the BBC World Service, Claire’s writing has also appeared in Time Out London and the London Literary Review, as well as political institutions dedicated to peace. She has an M.A. in Classical and English Literature from Oxford University.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Praise for ISHMAEL'S ORANGES:

"A beautifully rendered work that makes the tragedy of the Middle East real; highly recommended."


—Library Journal, Starred Review


"In her first novel, Hajaj, who herself shares both Palestinian and Jewish heritage, shines a revealing spotlight on the consequences of deeply embedded prejudices."


— Booklist

"[Hajaj] makes great efforts to be fair to the two sides of an apparently insoluble conflict, acknowledging the faults and anguish of each."

—World Literature Today

"Timely and captivating, Ishmael's Oranges is beautifully crafted."

—Elif Shafak

"Ishmael’s Oranges is, one that conjures up the sights, smells and sounds of the Middle East as you turn the pages… much more than a standard retelling of the difficulties that beset two communities… an accomplished piece of storytelling… movingly told… If you are looking for a gripping, challenging summer read, then Ishmael’s Oranges should be on your list."


—Jewish Chronicle


"Compelling."


— Association of Jewish Libraries)

"Richly, hauntingly written… immeasurably beautiful… Hajaj’s story… shines the light of empathy."


— Independent


"If anyone can make a compelling, thought-provoking and honest story out of these disparate viewpoints, it’s Hajaj."


—The National


"Claire Hajaj isn’t afraid to ask difficult questions about how far people will go for love, for family, for faith or for country… At its heart, Ishmael’s Oranges tells the everyday story of the Israel-Palestine conflict. It’s not concerned with wider global implications or peace negotiations, but with presenting a new take on a familiar story: the way division affects real people and real families."


—Curious Animal

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