Synopses & Reviews
In an astonishing, revelatory original debut, Caine Prize for African Writing winner Brian Chikwava tackles head-on the realities of life as a refugee When he lands in Harare North, our unnamed protagonist carries nothing but a cardboard suitcase full of memories and an email address for his childhood friend, Shingi. Finessing his way through immigration, he spends a few restless weeks as the very unwelcome guest in his cousin's home before tracking down Shingi in a squat. This shocking, powerful first novel is the story of a stranger in a strange landone of the thousands of illegal Zimbabwean immigrants seeking a better lifewith a past he is determined to hide. From the first line the language fizzes with energy, humor, and not a little menace. As he struggles to make his life in London (the "Harare North" of the title) and battles with the weight of what he has left behind in a strife-torn Zimbabwe, every expectation and preconception is turned on its head. The inhabitants of the squat function at various levels of desperation: Shingi struggles to find meaningful work and to meet the demands of his family back home; Tsitsi makes a living renting out her baby to women defrauding Social Services; Alex claims to have an important job in Croydon. Fearlessly political, laugh-out-loud funny, and with an anti-hero whose voice is impossible to forget, this novel is an arresting account of London as it is experienced by Africa's dispossessed.
Review
"The darkest of comedies, fueled by an electric, wholly convincing voice." Observer
Review
"An hilarious and wrenching examination of immigrant life . . . from a prodigiously talented and uncompromising writer." Ali Smith, author, The Accidental
Review
"Chikwava has created an utterly compelling anti-hero . . . mesmerizing." Guardian
Review
"A perfectly original and true narrative voice . . . Full of surprises, delicious little tics, and real fire-in-the-belly creativity . . . but importantly, the voice comes off as effortless, and therefore true . . . its a major accomplishment." Tod Wodicka, author, All Shall Be Well
Synopsis
Caine Prize winner Brian Chikwava tackles the realities of life in London for Africas dispossessed in this fearlessly political and very funny story of an illegal Zimbabwean immigrant seeking a better life in England — with a past he is determined to hide.
From the Hardcover edition.
Synopsis
When he lands in Harare North, our unnamed protagonist carries nothing but a cardboard suitcase full of memories and a longing to be reunited with his childhood friend, Shingi.
He ends up in Shingi's Brixton squat where the inhabitants function at various levels of desperation. Shingi struggles to find meaningful work and to meet the demands of his family back home; Tsitsi makes a living renting her baby out to women defrauding the Social Services.
As our narrator struggles to make his way in 'Harare North', negotiating life outside the legal economy and battling with the weight of what he has left behind in strife-torn Zimbabwe, every expectation and preconception is turned on its head.
This is the story of a stranger in a strange land - one of the thousands of illegal immigrants seeking a better life in England - with a past he is determined to hide.
Synopsis
GB
Synopsis
BRIAN CHIKWAVA is among the exciting new generation of writers emerging from the African continent. His short story Seventh Street Alchemy was awarded the 2004 Caine Prize for African Writing and his debut novel, Harare North, was published to critical acclaim in 2010. He has been a Charles Pick fellow at the University of East Anglia, and lives in London.
About the Author
"The darkest of comedies, fueled by an electric, wholly convincing voice."
Observer"An hilarious and wrenching examination of immigrant life . . . from a prodigiously talented and uncompromising writer." Ali Smith, author, The Accidental"Chikwava has created an utterly compelling anti-hero . . . mesmerizing." Guardian"A perfectly original and true narrative voice . . . Full of surprises, delicious little tics, and real fire-in-the-belly creativity . . . but importantly, the voice comes off as effortless, and therefore true . . . its a major accomplishment." Tod Wodicka, author, All Shall Be Well