Saturday, June 23, 2007

YASMINA KHADRA


Crime fiction authors come in all shapes and sizes. They range from lady like "dames" [Ruth Rendell and P.D.James] to hard ex convicts Massimo Carlotto, and from husband and wife teams such as Nicci French to a mother and daughter combo P.J.Tracy.

But surely one of the most interesting authors is Yasmina Khadra, which is a pseudonym of the Algerian author Mohammed Moulessehoul. A high ranking Algerian army officer who adopted a woman's name to avoid military censorship. He revealed his true identity in 2001 after going into exile and seclusion on France.
Yasmina Khadra joins Massimo Carlotto as that rarity, authors with some gritty real life experience of their subject.
I have just started his novel Double Blank, the subtle humour and new location already have me hooked.

5 Comments:

Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

You'll win yourself a fan in France with this post. I once cited the humor in one of Khadra's other Brahim Llob novels, and the post won me a bravo from my French correspondent, who was happy that I had highlighted the humor as well as the violence.

Incidentally, I later dubbed her the Queen of Khadra, just as I crowned you the King of Camilleri.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

11:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pleased to meet you.
For my point of view, Khadra is not only one of the most crime novels' authors, but one of the best authors in french language, of these last years.
Excuse my poor english.

Evanthia, alias l'Amazone, alias the "queen of Khadra" ;-)

www.journalduneamazone.com

2:53 AM  
Blogger Uriah Robinson said...

Amazone thanks for your comment. I have now finished Double Blank, and really enjoyed Yasmina Khadra's brilliant analysis of the Algerian situation. I see we have both been crowned by "Peter the King and Queen maker", which is strange because he lives in the birthplace of the American republic.
Best wishes from the King of Camilleri.

7:01 AM  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Ah, but said Peter also grew up under British and French influence in Canada!
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

2:47 PM  
Blogger Uriah Robinson said...

Then you are the Prince Imperial of Temple.

5:45 AM  

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