OF MUD AND HONEY

In this novel, capricious violence consumes a Yemeni city after the British abandon it, leaving an Indian family terrifyingly vulnerable.

Dara and Silloo Barucha live an “idyllic” life in Aden, Yemen, a vibrantly cosmopolitan city they consider their “paradise.” A successful port city through most of the 1950s and ’60s, Aden has become a bustling hub of commercial and cultural activity. But in response to the increasingly violent agitation among insurgents, the British forces abruptly withdraw from Aden in 1967, leaving the city to its own devices. In the absence of the British constabulary presence, the government is seized by strident Communists who menace the city’s business owners, especially those who immigrated from abroad. At first, Dara believes the pains of governmental transition will subside—he makes his peace with the seizure of his family’s restaurant. But then he is arrested on trumped-up charges of smuggling; his large store is seized; and Silloo is placed under house arrest. She is regularly threatened by thugs who loot her house, menace her and her children with violence, and intimidate her with the prospect of rape, a harrowing predicament captured with electrifying power by Trabulsi. With her husband in prison, Silloo realizes it is up to her to steward her family to safety. This is a heartbreaking tale of a happy family enveloped in tumultuous political currents completely beyond its control. In addition, it is deeply disturbing to read about an extraordinary and prosperous city reduced to a struggling backwater: “The country’s rich history—bejeweled with an array of cultures, religions, and indoctrinations—seeded the Yemeni soil.” The author’s command of Aden’s history as well as the region at large is remarkable, and she seamlessly weaves the political predicament into the personal story of the Barucha family. Trabulsi has composed a moving drama that illustrates the troubles of a city and nation in the microcosmic struggles of a family.

A gripping and emotionally affecting political tale.