YASMINA KHADRA is the pen name of the former Algerian army officer Mohammed Moulessehoul. He adopted his wife's name as a pseudonym to avoid military censorship. He is the author of more than 20 books, at least six of which have been published in English, among themThe Swallows of KabulandThe Attack, both shortlisted for the IMPAC literary award. Khadra's work has been published in 45 countries. He has twice been honored by the Acadmie franaise, winning both the Mdaille de vermeil (2001) and Grand Prix de littrature (2012). His latest novel is The Angels Die (2016). He lives in France. The New York Times describes Khadra as, "a writer who can understand man wherever he is."