Born in Algiers in 1970, Amara Lakhous immigrated to Italy in 1995. His critically acclaimed novels in Arabic and Italian include Clash of Civilizations over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio (2008), Divorce Islamic Style (2012), Dispute over a Very Italian Piglet (2014) and The Prank of the Good Little Virgin of Via Ormea (2016). His novels have been translated into 8 languages. Using humor to explore the encounter of cultures, religions and languages, Lakhous’s work explores the experience of exile and the dynamics of migration in the contemporary Mediterranean. He currently lives in New York.