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A Wreath for Udomo (Faber Editions)

Series: Faber Editions
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( 111 ratings, 19 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Wreath for Udomo by Peter Abrahams explores the journey of a young African leader, Michael Udomo, who returns to his homeland after studying abroad to pursue independence from colonial rule. The novel delves into the challenges and moral dilemmas he faces as he grapples with the responsibilities and ideals of leadership in the midst of political and personal turmoil. Through its richly drawn characters, the book provides a compelling study of ambition, identity, and the complexities of revolution.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by politically charged narratives exploring the complexities of post-colonial Africa. It offers a deep dive into themes of leadership, loyalty, and the struggles of nationalist movements, resonating with those interested in historical fiction with a focus on social justice and identity.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Introduced by Petina Gappah, a lost classic by a radical black South African author: as exiled African activists in post-war London plot to revolutionise their native countries, idealism and tragedy collide when they return home as political leaders ...

Introduced by Petina Gappah, a lost classic by a radical black South African author: as exiled African activists in post-war London plot to revolutionise their native countries ...

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Those men who are history now; did they feel like this?

A 1950s Hampstead pub; a freezing night. Lois can't tear her eyes away from the haunted, restless African man in the corner. Over brandy and stew, she discovers he is in awe of her friend, Panafrica's greatest political writer and fighter. Their meeting inducts this stranger, Udomo, into London's revolutionary community of exiled African activists: the start of a life-changing journey. Amidst the internal politics and love affairs, Udomo is inspired by other leaders' independence uprisings; but when he returns to his native land to overthrow the colonial oppressors, his idealism is put to the ultimate test...

Inspired by Peter Abrahams' befriending of future African heads of state in mid-century London, A Wreath for Udomo (1956) is a radical lost classic, unforgettably exploring the nature of freedom, power, leadership and love.

'An African writer, a writer of the world, who opened up in South Africa a path of exploration for us, the writers who have followed the trail he bravely blazed.' - Nadine Gordimer

'Abrahams explored with sensitivity and passion, the injustices of apartheid and the complexities of racial politics.' - New York Times

Series: Faber Editions

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    This breathtaking collection is a marvel ... One of my literary foremothers.' Tayari Jones 'Astute, brilliantly observed, these timeless stories are remarkable. It's all the more poignant to know the writer died at such a heartbreakingly young age:' Jackie Kay And she was becoming frightened too, looking at all those white faces pressed against the windowpanes. One Black family comes...
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  • Our Sister Killjoy (Faber Editions)
    Our Sister Killjoy invites readers to join a young Ghanaian woman on her journey into Europe's heart of whiteness to meet the natives in this iconoclastic modern classic. 'A wondrous discovery.' – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 'A treasure: one of the works that inspired my own literary journey.' – Tsitsi Dangarembga 'Aidoo has reaffirmed my faith in the power of the...
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  • The Shutter of Snow (Faber Editions)
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  • A Wreath for Udomo (Faber Editions)
    Those men who are history now; did they feel like this? A 1950s Hampstead pub; a freezing night. Lois can't tear her eyes away from the haunted, restless African man in the corner. Over brandy and stew, she discovers he is in awe of her friend, Panafrica's greatest political writer and fighter. Their meeting inducts this stranger, Udomo, into London's...
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  • The Glass Pearls (Faber Editions)
    'This extraordinary novel had me hooked from start to finish, and left me with so much to brood on that I felt giddy... A fascinating, morally complex, deeply unsettling read.' -Sarah Waters 'A dark and harrowing window on the past: the ending will haunt your dreams. This is a novel that should never be forgotten again.' -Janice Hallett Nothing is...
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  • The Ha-Ha (Faber Editions)
    This lost classic coming-of-age tale is a tragicomic portrait of one young woman's university breakdown and recovery, introduced by Daisy Johnson. I wanted the knack of existing. I did not know the rules ... I wanted to tell them all about the animals, but would they understand? A tea party at an Oxford college. Earnest undergraduates in floral dresses clink...
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  • Queen (Faber Editions)
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  • Freezing Point (Faber Editions)
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  • Mrs Caliban (Faber Editions)
    The frogman was still there, sitting on the corner of her bed, looking towards her... Dorothy is a grieving housewife in the Californian suburbs. Her infant son, unborn child, and dog have all just died; her husband is unfaithful; her only friend is an alcoholic. One day, the radio announces that a green-skinned sea monster has escaped from the Institute...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Peter Abrahams is praised for addressing the injustices of apartheid and racial politics with passion and sensitivity. His work is lauded as pioneering and significant, providing vivid and dignified insights into African leaders and revolutionaries. The novel is described as intelligent, exciting, and written with skill, offering a unique perspective on African political figures.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571376391

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 November 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Petina Gappah

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 320g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Peter Abrahams was born in Vrededorp, near Johannesburg, in 1919. His Ethiopian father worked in the gold mines; his mother was the daughter of a black African father and white French mother, classifying Abrahams as 'coloured'. After his father's death, he had an impoverished childhood, selling firewood and working for a tinsmith, before winning a scholarship to school. In 1939, Abrahams left South Africa for European exile, writing for the Communist Daily Worker, befriending political activists and organising the Fifth Pan-African Congress. His first book was published in 1942, followed by ten volumes of trailblazing fiction and autobiography exposing racial injustice. He settled in Jamaica in 1956 - where he lived until his death aged 97 - where he continued writing and broadcasting radio commentaries; he was married twice, both to white Englishwomen, and had three children.

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