In the Hope of Virgins

In the eyes of the West, the Arab Spring is over. For Alwaleed, struggling in a society that condemns him as an illegitimate son, the ongoing political unrest offers him a chance to prove himself. Upon leaving university--vulnerable and uncertain--he is an easy target for the recruiters, and eventually finds himself fighting the Syrian regime.

But is he fighting for what he believes in? Set in Jordan and Syria following the Arab Spring, IN THE HOPE OF VIRGINS is a coming-of-age story amidst the growing power of ISIS and the crumbling of the old Arab regimes.

Jamal Naji was shortlisted for the 2010 IPAF for his novel I'NDAMA THASHEEKH AL-DHIAAB (WHEN WOLVES GOT OLD). Published widely in the Arab world, he has written dozens of novels and short story collections. Recipient of the Prize of the Jordanian State 2014 for his narrative writing, Naji lives in Amman, Jordan. Translator Paula Haydar won the University of Arkansas Arabic Translation Prize for her translation of Elias Khoury's THE KINGDOM OF STRANGERS. She lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas.