59 pages • 1 hour read
Mohamedou Ould SlahiThe Mauritanian (Guantánamo Diary)
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Mauritanian by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, edited by Larry Siems, chronicles Slahi’s 14-year imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay without charge, detailing his arrest, transfers to secret prisons, and daily life of a detainee experiencing torture amidst the US War on Terror. Slahi’s story, written between 2003 and 2005, underscores survival, dehumanization, and resilience within a framework of suspicion and abuse. The book references torture, graphic violence, sexual assault, racism, and Islamophobia.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Mohamedou Ould Slahi's The Mauritanian (Guantánamo Diary) is a gripping and harrowing memoir that offers a rare, firsthand account of life inside Guantánamo Bay. Praised for its raw honesty and emotional depth, the book vividly portrays Slahi's struggles against injustice. Some critics, however, found the graphic details distressing and the narrative occasionally disjointed. Overall, it's a powerful testament to human resilience and the quest for justice.
Who Should Read The Mauritanian (Guantánamo Diary)?
Readers who appreciate memoirs of resilience, legal battles, and human rights issues will find The Mauritanian (Guantánamo Diary) gripping. Comparable to The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman, it delves deeply into personal and political struggles, appealing to both history enthusiasts and social justice advocates.