The Disappearance of Mr. Nobody

Mr. Nobody is a 2023 novel by Samah Selim that won the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature. It is a "spare, well-crafted, and compelling" novel that follows a man in Algiers who disappears and the detective who searches for him. The detective finds more than he expected, leading him to a underworld of police informers, shady imams, bootleg beer traders, and grave robbers. The novel is a raw, lyrical portrait of life on the margins in contemporary Algiers and captures the echoes of Algeria's violent past.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 126 pages
Publication date: 03 January 2023
Publisher: American University in Cairo Press

Winner of the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, this captivating novel has been hailed as a "best new book of 2023" (The New Arab). Set in Rouiba, a nondescript suburb of Algiers, the story revolves around an unnamed man with a troubled past who seeks solace in caring for an elderly man with dementia. Tragedy strikes when the old man passes away, leaving the caretaker nowhere to be found. A police detective is assigned to investigate the circumstances of the old man's demise and track down the caretaker. However, their search yields no results, as the unnamed man cannot be identified, and there is no trace of Mr. Nobody. The officers' inquiries take them to individuals who once crossed paths with Mr. Nobody, and in each of them, they find a reflection of the man they are searching for.

This novel offers a raw, lyrical portrayal of life on the margins in contemporary Algiers. It delves into an underworld of police informers, shady imams, bootleg beer traders, and grave robbers, while also resonating with echoes of Algeria's violent past. The writing is masterful, with vivid descriptions and intricate characterizations that bring the story to life. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, each with their own motivations and struggles. The setting in Rouiba adds to the atmospheric and suspenseful nature of the novel, as the characters navigate the treacherous terrain of the city's underworld.

Overall, "Mr. Nobody" is a remarkable achievement in literature. It is a captivating and haunting noir that offers a unique perspective on life in Algiers and sheds light on the complexities of the human condition. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary African literature and the struggles of the marginalized.

Weight: 158g
Dimension: 132 x 203 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781649032140