"A true story of human desperation, shattering in its impact."--Tennessee Williams

Driven by famine from their home in the Rif, Mohamed's family walks to Tangiers in search of a better life. But his father is unable to find work and grows violent. Mohamed learns how to charm and steal. During a short spell in a filthy Moroccan jail, a fellow inmate kindles his life-altering love of poetry.

The distinguished writerPaul Bowles, perhaps best known for his novelThe Sheltering Sky, collaborated closely withMohamed Choukri on the translation ofFor Bread Alone, and penned the introduction.