The Riddle of Qaf

A quest in search of the origins of language

Ali Baba and his forty colleagues were not thieves but philosophers; Pythagoras's theorem of the triangle was inspired by a crucifixion in Jerusalem; and the greatest demon Sinbad had to face was not mythical, but cannibal. These are clues offered to those presumptuous enough to try solving the riddle of Qaf.

A Brazilian of Lebanese descent heard this riddle as a poem at his grandfather's feet. He believes it is an unrecognised muallaqat, the pre-Islamic poems suspended from the kaaba, Islam's most sacred place. In the great tradition of these Arabic poems the poet protagonist of The Riddle of Qaf relates his quest through the deserts of Arabia to find the woman he loves, but whom he has never seen.

The Riddle of Qaf's 28 chapters correspond to the letters of the Arabic alphabet as it takes a journey through time, cultures and the nature of language itself, in search of the solution that will ensure love prevails.

• The Riddle of Qaf has won numerous awards, including that of Best Brazilian novel and the prestigious Casa de Las Americas award.
• It makes a valuable and original contribution to contemporary fiction of Brazil and of understanding of pre-Islamic philosophy and literature.
• It will be of great value in to those teaching or studying contemporary Arabic literature and society.
• Will appeal to readers of fiction, especially those interested in Middle Eastern philosophies.
• Will appeal to readers keen to explore a contemporary interpretation of the classic Thousand and One Nights

'A masterpiece' - Die Zeit, Germany

'Alberto Mussa has taken a completely unexpected path in Brazilian literature with a rewriting of Arab mythology. He has done so with a creative assuredness.” - Jornal do Brasil

Alberto Mussa (1961-) is a Brazilian of Middle Eastern descent. He learnt Arabic as an adult and has translated the Muallaqat, pre-Islamic poems, into Portuguese. He has also published two other novels.

Lennie Larkin (translator) works as a translator at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute in the USA.