The child of Algerian immigrants, Begag has written widely on ethnic and national identity in his native France; in 2005, Dominique de Villepin named him minister for equal opportunities. In this autobiographical work, originally published in 1986 as
Le gone du Chaaba, Begag narrates the story of his childhood in Le Chaaba, a shantytown suburb of Lyon in which poverty and poor sanitation exacerbate tensions between immigrants and nonimmigrants, as well as between Arab families. A talented student, young Begag learns quickly and speaks French well, which facilitates a relationship with a
pied-noir teacher, who introduces him to Algeria and the Arabic language in a way Begag's parents cannot. As an adult writer, Begag's attention to linguistics persists--his original French version drew much praise for its exploration of colloquial Arabic expressions in France (using the word
beur, for example, to refer to second-generation North Africans). Although some subtleties are no doubt lost in translation, this book's translators strive to preserve and explain the most salient uses of such slang. An important look at Algerian ethnic identity in France, this discussion will also attract readers generally interested in immigration issues.
Brendan DriscollCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
“What a delightful little book this is. . . . [Shantytown Kid] is a comic, heartwarming, coming-of-age story. . . . [It is] light, witty, and full of amusing twists. . . . Until the last page, the story keeps the reader totally engaged, and most of the time, smiling. Thank you, translators.”—Historical Novels Review
(
Historical Novels Review 20060710)
"Anyone with an interest in post-colonial cultures and ethnic relations will find Begag''s writings both stimulating and perceptive."—Mathilde von Bulow, Oxford Journal
(Mathilde von Bulow
Oxford Journal 20060710)
“By writing what is in many ways a classic coming-of-age story, as reminiscent in spirit of Truffaut’s Les Quatre Cents Coups as of any works that are specifically Arab or North African, Begag has successfully avoided producing a misérabiliste depiction of France’s immigrant community. In this way, Shantytown Kid stands out from the ever growing genre of beur literature that often relies on stereotypical portrayals of immigrants as the passive victims of economic hardship and societal racism.”—Gretchen Head, Arab Studies Journal
(Gretchen Head
Arab Studies Journal 20060710)
“Begag breaks into the French language and Republic with subversive humor and style, forcefully rendered in the first English-language translation of a personal trajectory intimately intertwined with the evolution of French society since the 1960s.”—Danielle Marx-Scouras, author of La France de Zebda 1981–2004
(Danielle Marx-Scouras )
“This beautifully translated and brilliantly introduced novel will hereafter serve as the essential starting point for an English-reading public desiring to make sense out of the urgent immigration and housing debates in contemporary France.”—James D. Le Sueur, author of Uncivil War: Intellectuals and Identity Politics during the Decolonization of Algeria
(James D. LeSueur )
“A delightful coming-of-age story. This groundbreaking work mixes fiction and autobiographical elements to create a compelling portrait of the North African community in France.”—Mark McKinney, associate professor of French at Miami University
(Mark McKinney )
