Words without Borders’s issue dedicated to Tunisian women writers got lost in the flurry of the end of 2017, with everyone quick to say goodbye to the year.

The issue focuses on work written in the seven years after the Arab Spring and Tunisian Revolution and how the new political climate changed the literary output in subject matter, frequency and quality. There is writing in translation from several celebrated Tunisian writers, sich as Noura Bensaad, Emna Belhaj Yahia and Azza Filali.

‘If you want my opinion,’ he ventured, ‘fifty dinars is too much to pay for pimples! No one ever died from an outbreak of acne!’

Part of Les Intranquilles (The Restless), Filali’s most recent novel, is featured and translated into English by Ros Schwartz. The effects of the revolution are explored in the wry story of a dermatologist’s practice. Prices have skyrocketed post-revolution, leading to unexpected consequences—including a new choice among women that is putting the business in jeopardy.

• Read excerpt in English, here.

• Efemia Chela is Francophone & Contributing Editor; follow her on Twitter