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Guantánamo Diary

The Fully Restored Text
Series: Canons
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( 5,944 ratings, 755 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Guantánamo Diary is a compelling memoir by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, chronicling his experiences of detention in Guantánamo Bay. Written while he was still imprisoned, the book details his arrest, rendition, and subsequent treatment in the facility. It offers a profound insight into the human cost of security policies during the War on Terror, reflecting on themes of resilience and justice.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This powerful and deeply personal memoir may appeal to you if you are interested in real-life narratives that explore the complexities of justice, human rights, and resilience. It offers an eye-opening account of the author's experiences in one of the most contentious detention centres in history and provides a unique perspective on the issues of captivity and survival.

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The first and only diary written by a Guantanamo detainee during his imprisonment, now with previously censored material restored and a new introduction from the author.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Guantánamo Diary is the first and only diary written by a Guantanamo detainee during his imprisonment, now with previously censored material restored.

Mohamedou Ould Slahi was imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay in 2002. There he suffered the worst of what the prison had to offer, including months of sensory deprivation, torture, and sexual assault.

In October 2016, he was released without charge. This is his extraordinary story.

Series: Canons

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Guantánamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Slahi is praised as a compelling and extraordinary personal account of his detention, offering a stark vision reminiscent of Orwell and Kafka. Reviewers highlight it as a powerful and darkly masterful epic, balancing pain and anguish with bitter humour. It serves as both a literary achievement and a pressing reminder of the importance of humanity and the rule of law.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781786891853

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 October 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Canongate Canons

Edition: Main - Canons

Contributors:

  • Edited by Larry Siems
  • Introduction by Larry Siems
  • Introduction by Mohamedou Ould Slahi

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 337g

Pages: 464

About the Author

Mohamedou Ould Slahi was born in Mauritania in 1970. He earned a scholarship to study engineering in Germany when he was 18, and lived and worked in Germany and briefly in Canada before returning to Mauritania in 2000. He was detained without charge in Guantanamo Bay in 2002, where he was repeatedly tortured. While in detention, he wrote the 466-page manuscript which was to become Guantanamo Diary, which became an international bestseller. After fourteen years, Slahi was finally released in October 2016.

Larry Siems directed the Freedom to Write and International Programs at PEN American Center, where he led PEN's ongoing efforts to defend writers facing persecution around the world and protect freedom of expression in the US. He left at the end of 2013 to concentrate on editing Slahi's memoir. He is the author of The Torture Report and is a poet and non-fiction writer.

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