When he first showed up at Captain Ali's run-down boxing club, Saed was mocked for his bourgeois manners then humiliated in the ring. After barely a year of training, he has been consumed by the world of boxing and tipped for greatness. As his star rises, Saed is faced with the challenger he came for, but at what cost?
Maan Abu Taleb's debut novel is one of heady victories and crushing defeats. Driven by direct, lean prose, All the Battles is a compelling story of class, identity, and personal transformation.
Maan Abu Taleb is the founding editor of Ma3azef, the Arab world's leading online music magazine, and he holds a master's degree in philosophy and contemporary critical theory. Born and raised in Amman, Jordan, he now lives in London, UK.
Robin Moger is the translator of Otared by Mohammad Rabie and Women of Karantina by Nael Eltoukhy, among other books. His translation for Writing Revolution won the 2013 English PEN Award for outstanding writing in translation. He lives in Cape Town, South Africa.