Description

Set on the island of Anjouan, Comoros, Deranged As I Am follows the story of a humble dock worker. With his ramshackle cart and patched-up clothes, he spends his days trying to find enough work to feed himself. This whirlwind of a novel takes place over just a few days, yet Ali Zamir’s poetic and energetic prose transports readers to the docks, its noises, colors, and smells. This lively and often darkly humorous story does not draw away from the more serious themes of class, poverty, and exploitation that Zamir explores. A rich and significant text that questions literature and language itself, Deranged As I Am confirms the very original place that Zamir occupies in French literature.

About the Author

ALI ZAMIR was born in Anjouan, Comoros, and currently lives in Montpellier, France. Deranged As I Am is his third novel and winner of the 2019 Prix Roman France Télévisions.

ALICE BANKS is a translator from French and Spanish into English, based in Madrid. When she is not translating, Banks also writes on French and Spanish literature for various publications.