ALL THE BATTLES

A journey from bourgeois respectability into the world of working-class boxing

Said leads a comfortable, yet boring, middle-class life. That is, until one afternoon, he leaves work early and crosses into the rough side of town, in search of a run-down boxing club. His obsession with the sport grows: he starts skipping work and showing up with visible injuries. Things begin to unravel as he quits his job, trains full time, and is entered for the fight of his life. Will this be the making of him, or is it the end of the road? Maan Abu Taleb's stylish debut novel is beautifully observed and carefully paced. Far from being a celebration of machismo, All the Battles approaches the pervasive presence of violence in society with nuance and grace.

Maan Abu Taleb's stylish debut novel is a tale of transformation, from corporate worker to fighter. With directness and precision, All the Battles is fueled by a slowly burning, yet gripping, momentum.

Maan Abu Taleb is the founding editor of Ma3azef, the Arab world's leading online music magazine, and he holds a master's degree in philosophy and contemporary critical theory. Born and raised in Amman, Jordan, he now lives in London, UK.

Robin Moger is the translator of Otared by Mohammad Rabie and Women of Karantina by Nael Eltoukhy, among other books. His translation for Writing Revolution won the 2013 English PEN Award for outstanding writing in translation. He lives in Cape Town, South Africa.