חביבה

Born in the Jewish quarter of Tunis some 120 years ago, Habiba Msika became a singer, actress and creator who answered to no patron, husband or children and broke through every wall around her. Her stormy life and violent death have long puzzled researchers and dramatists. Built like Rashomon, the novel lets those who knew her speak in turn: her aunt; the French lover she almost married; Julie, a girl taken off the street to appear beside her on stage; her short-lived husband; and the jealous old man who killed her. Their conflicting testimonies offer a view of her era and several ways of solving the riddle of a powerful woman ahead of her time.

AI-generated summary

About the book

Form

Novel

Length

212 pages in the original

Genres

Historical (assigned by AI)

Set in

Tunisia, early 20th century

First published

2023 by Pardes

Author's age

58 when first published

ISBN

9789655412956 (original)