Imprint
- Sceptre
- Sceptre
- Sceptre
Pakistan, c 1960 to c 1970, Fiction, Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)
A spellbinding debut set in Pakistan during the political upheavals of the late '60s - a propulsive tale of family, secrets and survival in a caste-ridden, patriarchal society.
WINNER OF THE WRITERS' GUILD OF GREAT BRITAIN BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE GORDON BOWKER VOLCANO AND MCKITTERICK PRIZES
'A stunning debut novel'
Kamila Shamsie
'An impressive, gripping debut'
The Times
'Rich and deeply moving . . . marvellous'
Yaa Gyasi
Pakistan, 1968. As riots erupt in the streets of Lahore, Inspector Faraz Ali returns to his birthplace, the red-light district in the walled inner city. Wrested from it as a child by his powerful father to be raised by a respectable family, Faraz has hidden his roots ever since. Now his father has sent him back: to cover up the murder of a young courtesan.
It should be a simple task, but for once Faraz finds himself unable to obey orders - nor can he resist searching for the mother and sister he left behind. Chasing after answers that risk shattering his precariously constructed existence, Faraz is unaware that his sister also faces a return to the old city, and to the life she
thought she had escaped.
'A gripping read that does not let you go, even after the end'
Maaza Mengiste
' Stunning . . . fully human, fully engaged with what makes us human'
New York Times Book Review
Praise for The Return of Faraz Ali
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A gripping read - everything beautifully evoked, from the alleys of the Old City to the atmosphere of corruption and secrets.
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Aamina Ahmad has done the impossible: made her literary debut with an enduring classic. Essential and compelling.
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A rich and deeply moving novel about confronting histories both personal and political . . . Marvellous.
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In The Return of Faraz Ali, Aamina Ahmad moves across borders and through decades to create a mesmerizing portrayal of crimes and coverups in the walled-off world of Lahore's red-light district. That a novel so epic in scope can remain so intimate at heart is nothing short of astonishing.
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The Return of Faraz Ali heralds the arrival of a strikingly accomplished and mature talent. Aamina Ahmad has managed to meld fast-paced, intelligent noir with a devastating portrait of the true costs of ambition and desire. A gripping read that does not let you go, even after the end.
Aamina Ahmad
Aamina Ahmad was born and raised in London, where she worked for BBC Drama and other independent television companies as a script editor. Her play The Dishonoured was produced by Kali Theatre Company in 2016.
She has an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and is a recipient of a Stegner Fellowship from Stanford University, a Pushcart Prize and a Rona Jaffe Writers Award. Her short fiction has appeared in journals including One Story, the Southern Review and Ecotone. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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