Buy Minor Detail by Antonia Baggini (paperback)

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Minor Detail by Adania Shibli – A Haunting Exploration of Memory, Violence, and Dispossession

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli is a powerful and evocative novel that delves into the complexities of war, memory, and identity. Set against the backdrop of the 1949 Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the story begins with a harrowing incident in the Negev desert, where a young Palestinian woman is captured, assaulted, and killed by Israeli soldiers. Decades later, a woman in Ramallah becomes obsessed with this ‘minor detail’ of history, seeking to uncover the truth and give voice to the silenced victim. ​

Through its stark and poetic prose, Minor Detail examines the erasure of Palestinian narratives and the enduring impact of historical trauma. The novel’s dual narrative structure—alternating between the soldier’s perspective and the modern-day investigation—offers a poignant meditation on the complexities of occupation, resistance, and the quest for justice. ​

Ideal for readers interested in contemporary Middle Eastern literature, postcolonial studies, and narratives that confront historical injustices, Minor Detail is a compelling and thought-provoking work that challenges readers to reflect on the past and its lingering effects on the present. ​

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