ALGIERS - There is a notable absentee from this year's international book fair in Algiers -- the work of French-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud, who last week won France's prestigious top literary prize.
His novel "Houris" centres on Algeria's civil war between the government and Islamists in the 1990s -- the North African country's so-called "black decade".
The book, written in French, is banned in Algeria, and Daoud's publisher Gallimard was not allowed to display his works at the fair.
More than 1,000 publishers from 40 countries, including 290 from Algeria itself, are exhibiting at the 27th international book fair, which lasts until November 16.
Daoud used to work as a journalist and columnist in Algeria.
Gallimard was notified of the ban last month, when his book was already a favourite for the Goncourt prize in France.
Algeria bans any publications about the civil war that began after the government cancelled an election, sparking an armed uprising by fundamentalist guerilla groups. The violence claimed some 200,000 lives.
"Houris" -- the title refers to beautiful, virginal companions for faithful Muslim men in paradise -- tells the story of a young woman who loses her voice when an Islamist cuts her throat as she witnesses her family being massacred during the civil war.
She later shares her experiences with her unborn child through an internal monologue.
Despite being banned in Algeria, illicit copies of "Houris" are known to be widely available.
Authors, editors and visitors to the trade fair have remarked on the book's absence.