Addis Ababa (simply 'Addis' to locals), considered by some to be the original home of humankind, is a sprawling melting pot of cultures where rich and poor live side by side in relative harmony - until they don't. Maaza Mengiste's award-winning fiction and nonfiction have consistently reflected the lives of Ethiopia's everyday people, against the backdrop of migration, war, and exile. Here, in this masterfully edited collection showcasing the country's finest literary talent, Mengiste brings this same razor-sharp sensibility to her city of birth, pulling back the curtain on despair and depravity, offering an intimate glimpse into the raw, beating heart of Addis Ababa.
