Exile

Exile is a central theme of the novel, shaping the identities, relationships, and political possibilities of Khaled, Hosam, and Mustafa. All three men live in London as exiles from Libya, but their experiences of displacement vary in tone and implication. For Khaled, exile becomes a way of life rather than a temporary condition. For Mustafa, it is a political challenge to be resisted. For Hosam, it is a form of suspension, a holding pattern that eventually breaks open under the pressure of historical events. Together, their trajectories offer a complex portrait of what it means to live away from one’s homeland geographically, emotionally, and politically.

Khaled’s experience of exile is defined by secrecy and emotional distance. After the embassy shooting, he cannot safely return to Libya and cannot tell his family what happened to him. Their communications are monitored, and for many years they...