2006 book 40

tahar ben jelloun's this blinding absence of light
based on a true story, this novel is narrated by salim, who survived 20 years in an underground prison. he is imprisoned along with several other soldiers after a failed attempt at a coup against king hassan II of morocco. the prisoners are barely given enough food to be kept alive and the appalling conditions lead to death and madness for most of them. obviously, this is an extremely dark story, but ben jelloun, winner of numerous literary prizes in france and north africa, tells it compassionately and powerfully.