Endings

Abdul Rahman Munif · 1933–2004 · Saudi Arabia / Jordan

Originally Al-Nihayat (Arabic) · translated by Roger Allen

Why it matters

A desert village's catastrophic drought sends its legendary hunter out after one last quarry, and the long wait for his return exposes the community's fraying bonds. Munif's spare early masterpiece, a smaller companion to Cities of Salt's vast canvas.

At a glance

A compact village tragedy told with spare, elemental restraint rather than dense political detail.