Afterlives

In this article, we are going to delve deeper into Afterlives and explore all its facets. Afterlives is a topic that has aroused great interest in society in recent times, and it is important to understand its importance and its impact on our lives. Over the next few lines, we will analyze the origin of Afterlives, its evolution over time and the different perspectives that exist on this topic. We will also examine its relevance in today's world and how it has influenced different aspects of our society. Join us on this journey of discovery and reflection about Afterlives.

Afterlives
First edition
AuthorAbdulrazak Gurnah
GenreHistorical fiction
PublisherBloomsbury
Publication date
17 September 2020
Pages288
ISBN978-1-5266-1585-5
Preceded byGravel Heart 

Afterlives is a 2020 work of historical fiction by the Nobel Prize-winning Zanzibar-born British author Abdulrazak Gurnah. It was first published by Bloomsbury Publishing on 17 September 2020.[1] Set mainly in the first half of the 20th century, the plot follows four protagonists living in an unnamed town on the Swahili coast of what is now Tanzania from the time of German colonial rule until a few years after independence.[2][3] It was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize of Political Fiction.[4][5]

Critical reception

The novel received generally positive reviews. According to Book Marks, the book received a "rave" consensus, based on twenty-one critics: fifteen "rave" and six "positive".[6] On Books in the Media, the book was rated four out of five, based on five critic reviews.[7] In the November/December 2022 issue of Bookmarks, the book was scored four out of five. The magazine's critical summary reads: "In this profound chronicle of individuals and colonialism, Gurnah brings a new perspective by focusing on the intimate: the stories of ordinary people who normally might go unnoticed".[8]

David Pilling of the Financial Times described it as a "book of quiet beauty and tragedy".[2] In a review for The Guardian, Maaza Mengiste praised its narrative details of colonialism and depiction of psychologically complicated relationships, though she felt that the ending was rushed. Referring to the "deliberate exclusion of an African perspective" from historical archives, she concludes: "In Afterlives, he considers the generational effects of colonialism and war, and asks us to consider what remains in the aftermath of so much devastation."[9]

It was selected for The Washington Post's "10 Best Books of 2022" list.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Afterlives". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b Pilling, David (22 October 2020). "Afterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah — forgotten Africa". Financial Times. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  3. ^ Carington, Francesca (7 October 2021). "Afterlives by Adbulrazak Gurnah, review: love and loss in German East Africa". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. ^ Comerford, Ruth (9 April 2021). "Granta and Dialogue claim multiple titles on Orwell Prize longlists". The Bookseller. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  5. ^ "The Orwell Prizes 2021: The Shortlists | The Orwell Foundation". www.orwellfoundation.com. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Afterlives". Book Marks. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Afterlives Reviews". Books in the Media. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Afterlives". Bookmarks. November–December 2022. p. 30. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  9. ^ Mengiste, Maaza (30 September 2020). "Afterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah review – living through colonialism". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  10. ^ "The 10 Best Books of 2022". The Washington Post. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.


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