Mary in the Dark

About this book

Village customs force Amir into marriage with Mary, a child younger than twelve, leaving neither free to choose their future. The novel examines the effects of coercion and inherited expectations on their lives and sense of personal worth. Norhan Hamada follows Amir's struggle against the roles imposed on him alongside Mary's fear in a situation she cannot understand. Their experiences raise questions about agency, dignity and the difference between an existence dictated by convention and a life in which a person has a meaningful choice.