Set against the backdrop of a Mauritanian village during a devastating drought, the memoir explores the author's transformative experience in the Peace Corps and his partnership with Mamadou, a farmer from the slave caste. Their collaboration brings significant, albeit fleeting, change to the community. Over four decades, the narrative weaves humor, memorable characters, and political intrigue, highlighting the deep inequalities of human experience and how they are influenced by cultural and geographical contexts.
Katherine Baird Knihy
