This story by Sudanese author Tayeb Salih is about a young boy’s relationship with his grandfather. They were initially very close, and the boy idolized the old man. In a “coming of age” event, the boy realizes that his grandfather has become rich and powerful by taking advantage of the misfortune of others. The boy feels especially bad for a neighbor who has lost most of his land to his grandfather. His grandfather is determined to own the rest of the land, and is part of a group of moneylenders who take away most of the neighbor’s annual date harvest.
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