Assia Djebar, one of the most distinguished woman writers to emerge from
the Arab world, wrote Children of the New World following her own
involvement in the Algerian resistance to colonial French rule. Like the
classic film The Battle of Algiers--enjoying renewed interest in the
face of world events--Djebar's novel sheds light on current world
conflicts as it reveals a determined Arab insurgency against foreign
occupation, from the inside out.
However, Djebar focuses on the experiences of women drawn into the
politics of resistance. Her novel recounts the interlocking lives of
women in a rural Algerian town who find themselves joined in solidarity
and empower each other to engage in the fight for independence.
Narrating the resistance movement from a variety of perspectives--from
those of traditional wives to liberated students to political
organizers--Djebar powerfully depicts the circumstances that drive
oppressed communities to violence and at the same time movingly reveals
the tragic costs of war.