French Author Defends Novel Against Allegations of Story Theft

Kamel Daoud's Goncourt-winning book 'Houris' faces claims of unauthorized use of a survivor's experiences from the Algerian civil war.

Kamel Daoud's novel 'Houris', which won the Goncourt Prize, is accused of being based on the real-life experiences of Saâda Arbane, an Algerian massacre survivor.
Arbane claims that Daoud used details from her therapy sessions with his wife, a psychotherapist, without her consent.
Gallimard, the publisher, insists that the novel's plot and characters are purely fictional and defends Daoud and his wife against defamation.
The book has been banned in Algeria, and the publisher was excluded from Algeria's main book fair, suggesting political motivations behind the controversy.
Daoud, known for his critical analyses of Algerian society, is facing intensified scrutiny and criticism from Algerian media.