Growing Mangos in the Desert: a memoir of life in a Mauritanian village (Hardcover)

<p><strong><em>Growing Mangos in the Desert </em>transports readers to a profoundly different culture to leave a message about human experience and the deep inequalities that mark all of our lives.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><em>Having joined the Peace Corps in 1984, the author winds up in a Mauritanian village amidst a catastrophic drought. She forms an unusual partnership with Mamadou, a farmer from the slave caste, who has emerged as the village leader. Together the two bring astonishing change--most of which has little hope of lasting. Spanning four decades, this vivid and poignant memoir is filled with humor, unforgettable characters, gripping narrative, and political intrigue. Baird's superbly-crafted storytelling illuminates how the human experience is shaped by the unique features of place.</em></p><p><br></p>