The Degenerate: Al-Wabsh

By Jamīl al-Salḥūt and Jamal Assadi

When the sealed walls of private homes turn into public courtrooms, and the human body becomes a stage for the sacrifices of ignorance and outdated inheritance, creatures that feed on the fears of others sprout in the dark. In his profound and daring novel, "The Degenerate" (Al-Wabsh), the acclaimed author Jamil al-Salhut takes us on a deeply moving human journey, piercing the thorny fences of traditional societies to expose a reality where the sacred is intertwined with the profane, and truth with myth.The story begins where conventional tales usually end; with the shattering of a wedding night that was supposed to be the start of lifelong tranquility, only to rapidly devolve into a raging social crisis. In this work, the tragedy does not remain confined within the bedroom walls. Instead, it leaks into the alleys and gatherings, turning intimate secrets into scorching rumors, and rumors into unjust sentences that hunt the innocent. Here emerges "The Degenerate"-a charlatan who wears the cloak of righteousness to prey on the panic of mothers and the broken pride of men, turning social ignorance into a lucrative trade and a bridge for financial and physical exploitation.The novel is not merely a monitoring of a bitter social reality, but a stunning psychological dissection of characters torn between the guilt of silence, the tyranny of traditions, and the arduous search for salvation and a dignity lost in the depths of cultural and spiritual darkness. By tracking the destinies of heroes stabbed in the core of their humanity, al-Salhut confronts us with harsh questions: Who is the real criminal? Is it the fraudster who sells illusion? Or is it the society that grants charlatanism its legitimacy and crucifies the victim as a sacrifice to its own ignorance?It is a spiritual and human work par excellence, holding the breath with a tone that combines the thrilling mystery surrounding the characters' fates, and the inspiration that springs from the human soul's ability to rebel and confront the forces of darkness. A novel that touches the conscience and forces the reader to think, leaving an echo that resonates long after turning the final page.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 238660103X
• ISBN13: 9782386601033
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: Les Editions El Amir
• Length: 202 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.8" x 8.3"