La Colline oubliée

work by Mammeri

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

La Colline oubliée (The Forgotten Hill) is the first novel by Algerian writer Mouloud Mammeri, published in 1952. The novel depicts the struggles of Kabyle youths who feel constrained by traditional customs in modern Algeria.1

Mammeri, a Kabyle novelist, playwright, and translator, was born in 1917 and educated in Morocco, Paris, and Algiers. He later became a professor at the University of Algiers. His works often explore the changing realities of Algeria, focusing on the experiences of his Kabyle compatriots and the clash between Berber and French cultures.1

La Colline oubliée specifically highlights the challenges faced by young people in a society bound by tradition, exploring themes of cultural identity and the search for meaning in a changing world.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Mouloud Mammeri
In his first novel, La Colline oubliée (1952; “The Forgotten Hill”), Mammeri recorded the experiences of his Kabylian compatriots in a story of village youths who are stifled under the burden of traditional native customs. With Le Sommeil du Juste (1955; “The Sleep of the Just”), the scene shifts…
Read More
In his first novel, La Colline oubliée (1952; “The Forgotten Hill”), Mammeri recorded the experiences of his Kabylian compatriots in a story of village youths who are stifled under the burden of traditional native customs. With Le Sommeil du Juste (1955; “The Sleep of the Just”), the scene shifts…
Read More