Against the Loveless World: Winner of the Palestine Book Award

In the novel "The Cube" by Nahr, a young woman named Nahr is confined to a nine-square-meter cube, known as the Cube, and is labeled a terrorist, whore, and revolutionary. She learns to survive and finds purpose, politics, and friends in the basement of a battered beauty parlor. Nahr tells her story to Bilal, her only reason to get out.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A captivating and audacious novel, FATIMA BHUTTO

A literary masterpiece, MARC LAMONT HILL

A wondrous work that illuminates the darkest corners with a glimmer of hope, MICHAEL PALIN

A bold and imaginative creation, AHDAF SOUEIF

Winner of the prestigious Palestine Book Award, Nahr has been confined to the Cube, a mere nine square meters of sleek grey cinderblock, devoid of time and its patterns of light and dark disconnected from the cycles of day and night. Journalists seek her insights, yet find themselves futilely frustrated as Nahr remains resolute in her decision to withhold her story from them. The world outside labels her a terrorist, a whore, and even a revolutionary or a hero. However, the truth lies in the multifaceted nature of Nahr's existence and the various names she has borne.

Born into a life of second-class citizenship, Nahr experienced the painful realization that love becomes a desperate pursuit for those who are marginalized. Above all, she learned the art of survival, navigating the complexities of a society that often cast her aside. In a serendipitous turn of events, Nahr found herself in Palestine, arriving in the wrong shoes and without seeking it, but discovering a profound sense of purpose, politics, and friendship in the basement of a weathered beauty parlour. There, amidst the chaos, she encountered a dark-eyed man named Bilal, who imparted upon her the invaluable lesson of resistance. He attempted to save her when it was already too late, but fate had other plans.

Now, seated within the confines of the Cube, Nahr shares her story with the absent Bilal, her sole reason for yearning to escape the confines of her prison. Though he may not physically be present, his memory serves as a guiding light, a beacon of hope that propels her forward. Nahr's tale is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a story of survival, resistance, and the pursuit of a better life. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of finding light and purpose, and that love can be a powerful force for change.

Weight: 264g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526618818