From the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature - 'a maestro' ( Guardian ). A captivating
story of the intertwined lives of three young people coming-of-age in postcolonial East Africa
Selected as a book to look out for in 2025 by the Guardian Observer Irish Times and BBC
'A poignant portrait of love friendship and betrayal' Guardian 'Storytelling mastery'
Observer 'The reader can only rejoice at Gurnah's skill in giving us the whole of a life in
such nimble scenes' Financial Times 'Another glittering tapestry of a novel from a master
storyteller of our times' Irish Times
_________________________________________________________ What are we given and what do we
have to take for ourselves? It is the 1990s. Growing up in Zanzibar three very different
young people - Karim Fauzia and Badar - are coming of age and dreaming of great possibilities
in their young nation. But for Badar an uneducated servant boy who has never known his parents
it seems as if all doors are closed. Brought into a lowly position in a great house in Dar es
Salaam Badar finds the first true home of his life - and the friendship of Karim the young
man of the house. Even when a shattering false accusation sees Badar sent away Karim and
Fauzia refuse to turn away from their friend. But as the three of them take their first steps
in love infatuation work and parenthood their bond is tested - and Karim is tempted into a
betrayal that will change all of their lives forever. 'In reading this wise new novel we the
readers become a bit more ready to understand what it means to be human' Elif Shafak New
Statesman
