Author: MZ Pevsner

MZ Pevsner’s short story Horsetail Renaissance was shortlisted for the 2020 Bridport Prize. It comes from the collection First Dates & Last Rites Vol.4

The short story Scrabble from the collection First Dates & Last Rites Vol.3 has been longlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award 2020.

The Doorman of Urozgan is the true life story of Habib Rezaie. Habib has worked closely with writer MZ Pevsner, author of Divinity Road (Signal Books, 2011) to trace his journey across continents from his birth in a rural Afghan village to his present life in Leicester. The narrative pivots around the loss of Habib’s brother while making the journey.

The story of this trek is terrifying and remarkable. Habib is almost drowned at sea and is subjected to modern slavery on a Turkish farm. The challenges that he faces in the UK, as he attempts to make a new life for himself, are no less extraordinary. The final sections of the work focus on Habib’s reflections on his journey and the key issues that relate to the wellbeing of young people in his situation: settled legal status; safe housing; access to education; the right to work; and the importance of family and friends.

Habib’s story is truly incredible and his experiences hold up a mirror to our society today. Many of the issues that it examines go far beyond the scope of migration, touching on what it is to be, and what it takes to feel human.

Available on Kindle and in paperback.

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