The Libyan

THE LIBYAN is unforgettable storytelling, told with raw honesty and an eye for detail. This stunning memoir sweeps four continents and several decades, from colonial Singapore through Europe and the United States, to Libya. A poignant saga of historical and cultural wealth, it transports the reader on an exciting journey of passion, terror and betrayal, chronicling a slice of Libya during the early years of Gaddafi's dictatorship.

A memoir told by Esther Kofod, a worldly Eurasian girl from Singapore who meets Kamal, a Libyan graduate student, in Washington D.C. Their fated union, against all odds and cultural barriers, is the basis of this powerful tale of love and desire, idealism and obsession. From the exciting cosmopolitan world of the American capital and the tranquility of a southern town, Esther and Kamal leave to begin a new life in the enigmatic North African nation of Libya.

The loving welcome awaiting Esther in Libya surpasses all her hopes of being accepted by a devoted and fiercely loyal family. Her account of life in a traditional setting is exquisitely and vividly described in intimate detail, offering a rare look into the Libyan culture. Unwittingly, Esther has also stepped into a world of random arrests and public hangings, into a country mangled by power and greed. Her husband's dream of developing Libya into a model Arab nation is instead replaced by the whims and biddings of an irrational dictator. As Gaddafi transformed the richest nation in Africa into the most repressed and brutalized country in the Arab world, Kamal struggles to survive politically, but soon becomes a target of the dreaded secret police.

Forced to run for his life from his beloved Libya, the harrowing escape of Esther and her children provides one of several heart pounding scenes in this fast paced drama. After his return to Florida, Kamal is hunted by rogue CIA and Libyan agents sent by Gaddafi's thugs to eliminate "stray dogs." In his obsession to overthrow his one-time hero, Kamal joins a group of elite Libyan dissidents to help establish an opposition party, the National Front for the Salvation of Libya. However, he soon realizes that he is faced with another enemy...himself.

A memorable book with a surprise ending, THE LIBYAN provides a rare look into an obscure culture and a young mother's journey of love into a chaotic world of political intrigue. "Kofod is a brilliant observer of detail and perceptive in her descriptions of character... Her love for Libya is evident and she presented a vivid account of its modern history through the eyes of Hiba and Kamal." -Libya TV (English) "The Libyan offers a unique perspective on living under one of the worst dictatorships of the 20th century...Kofod fluently weaves a tale of romance with her own observations of Libya to produce this gripping novel." -Tripoli Post, Libya "Ms. Kofod has a strong voice and a heck of a story which she tells with integrity and feeling." -Ethan Chorin, Author Translating Libya "The story never strays from its sharp edge... This is a good read. Fast paced in style, exciting in drama, and sweeping in time and geography" -C. Peter Ripley, History Professor Emeritus Author, Conversations With Cuba