Summary

Editor Larry Siems authors the Introduction to the memoir and the section “Notes on the Text, Redactions, and Annotations.” In the Introduction, Siems provides details about how the original manuscript by Mohamedou Ould Slahi was written, disclosure from Siems about his own editorial process, and background information about Slahi and context regarding his imprisonment. These three elements are woven together throughout the introductory sections of the book.

Slahi wrote the manuscript, originally 122,000 words, written by hand on 466 pages, during the summer of 2005. In it, Slahi recounts events beginning January 21, 2000, when he was traveling back to his home country of Mauritania. The majority of the account includes treatment received while detained in Jordan, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo, through the time of writing in 2005. According to the Siems, Slahi wrote the manuscript for a public audience. However, the manuscript...