One solitary thought in order to survive in the stupor of the heat: evening always comes. There is always an end. Think only of that. Don't think. In a desert prison camp, a man is rotting, half-alive, at the bottom of a well. Andres has been there, held in horrific conditions, for many years. Around him, other men are similarly imprisoned, guarded by a handful of soldiers. On the outskirts of the fort, Tamia, a young woman, hides behind rocks, hoping to hear news of her lover who is thought to be a prisoner. After months of furtive meetings with one of the guards she has seduced, she eventually learns that her man died months ago. That same night, she finds Andres making his escape. After years of solitary confinement, he looks more dead than alive. She decides to help him and leads him to a ruined village where an old woman gives them shelter. With Tamia's care, Andres gradually recovers, and a strong bond grows between them. Later, the couple have an affair and take refuge in the city with Tamia's family. Andres' terrorist past comes to light while Tamia discovers the unbelievable truth about her dead lover. "Lost Bodies" is both a heartbreaking love story and a searing tale of terrorism and political repression in North Africa.

Author Biography

Francois Gantheret is a psychoanalist. He has written several books (essays and short stories) but Lost Bodies is his first novel. He lives in Paris.