The Intimate Life of a Traditional Family in Kairouan Betrayed by Destiny
After the death of the erudite and poet grandfather, Salah Souissi (1871-1941), the mother and her daughters were forced to work hard spinning and weaving wool into carpets to sell. Steeped in tradition and values, they faced a harsh reality. Hafida Ben Rejeb Latta takes the reader behind the walls of a centuries-old medina, into the intrigues woven and unwoven by destiny. The description of a difficult daily life, encounters between women, arranged marriages, and portraits of prominent figures are striking.
Secrets, Hopes, and Inheritance
The author recounts her unique biography, filled with secrets, hopes, and the pursuit of inheritance. She realized early on that she would only succeed through education, which she pursued with determination. After passing her baccalaureate, she was among the first young women admitted to the National School of Administration (ENA). As a graduate, Hafida was assigned to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Information, where she became a close collaborator of Minister Chedli Klibi.
A New Era for Tunisia
The euphoria of recently independent Tunisia opened up a vibrant, cosmopolitan capital city, Tunis, to this young girl from Kairouan. She experienced a lively social scene, with outings among young people of different nationalities, receptions, and beautiful encounters. Hafida describes this carefree, festive atmosphere with palpable emotions. A beautiful surprise awaited her, changing the course of her life: she met the cultural attaché of the British Council, the Scottish David Latta. This was the love of her life, and their marriage made headlines. Hafida followed David to his postings abroad, totaling six countries, from Pakistan to Dar Essalem, with stops in London.
A Life of Passion and Engagement
Active and generous, Hafida engaged in associative action, contributing to the creation of schools, women's centers, and festivals. Her life was a thrilling journey of cultural encounters, travels, and projects that she undertook with passion. As Anissa Barrak writes in the preface, "You will take pleasure – and be instructed – in reading this authentic testimony to the journey of freedom and determination of a woman, and through her, to an era of profound change in Tunisia and the world." Barrak adds, "In the facts evoked, intimate or public, in the tone with which they are related, in the details provided, including emotions and the psychology of the characters approached with subtlety, one perceives in the author the response to a call emanating from her depths: the need to leave traces of an unconventional life, without precedent at the time."
