In 1950s Sudan, the powerful Abuzeid dynasty has amassed a fortune through their trading firm with Mahmoud Bey at its helm. But when Mahmoud's son, Nur, suffers a debilitating accident, the family is suddenly divided in the face of an uncertain future. As British rule nears its end, Sudan is torn between modernizing influences and the call of traditions past -- a conflict reflected in Mahmoud's two wives: Nabilah, who longs to escape the dust of 'backward-looking' Sudan, and Waheeba, who lives traditionally within the confines of her open-air kitchen. It is not until Nur begins to assert himself outside the strict cultural limits that both his own spirit and the frayed bonds of his family can begin to mend. This sweeping tale by the IMPAC and Orange Prize– nominated writer is one of the most accomplished and evocative portraits ever written about Sudanese society at the time of independence.