1920, a small, unnamed city in a colonial empire. Soraya Matas believes she has found the ideal job as a personal maid to the eccentric Mrs Hattingh, whose beautiful, decaying home is not far from the Muslim Quarter where Soraya lives with her parents. As Soraya settles into her new role, Mrs Hattingh eagerly awaits her son’s visit from London. She also offers to help Soraya stay in touch with her fiancé Nour, by writing him letters on her behalf. So begins a strange weekly meeting where Soraya dictates and Mrs. Hattingh writes – a ritual that binds the two women to one another and eventually threatens the sanity of both.
This Book Review appeared in the JUN/AUG 2026 issue of
The Art of Healing.
