Hostages of Memory Ali Zalah translated into English by the

translated into English by the poet and translator Sara Elkamel

of clay soil and carved its crumbling bed

is never safely stored away and the poet struggles with flashbacks

It’s 1986 and 29-year-old Marlo O’Sullivan of London-Irish stock has just found out that his sister is his mother

so much about both people and the times they lived through

Hostages of Memory Ali Zalah translated into English by theIn the Syrian Turkish borderlands, Khatoune searches for a home for their family. As her sons Alo and Ahme attempt to build a life for themselves, they know little about the secrets that weigh down their family history, or the troubles that the future has in store for them. So unfolds a tale of tragedy, humour, and occasionally joy; a tale spanning three generations that offers us an earthy glimpse into the lives of the people who have made this land