The Scents of Marie-Claire is the seventh novel by Tunisian novelist Habib Selmi.
The novel was translated into a variety of languages, including English, French, Italian, and German, and made it to the final "short" list of the 2009 World Prize for Arabic Novel, known as the "Arab Booker Prize".
[3] The fragility and speed of a relationship are exposed in this novel, which follows the evolution of an emotional story at all stages: from the moment of exchanging first glances to separation, through the mystery, complexity, and confusion that characterize the relationship between a man and a woman.
Moment by moment, the small details that accumulate reflect daily life in all of its authenticity and reality: from morning breakfast to clichéd personal habits, even the body's desires, instincts, and emotions, meet two civilizations and collide.
[4][5] The novelist depicts a love story between an Arab man and a Western woman symbolizing each other's value system, addressing the theme of the encounter or clash of civilizations between the East and the West.