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Paradise

A BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime, by the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature 2021
By Abdulrazak Gurnah
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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
Paradise by Abdulrazak Gurnah tells the story of Yusuf, a young boy in early 20th-century East Africa, who is pledged to a wealthy merchant to settle his father's debts. As he travels across the continent, he is exposed to cultural conflicts and colonial tensions, grappling with issues of identity, loyalty, and survival in a changing world. The novel beautifully captures the complexities of imperialism and personal growth during a tumultuous historical period.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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 are captivated by coming-of-age stories intertwined with the rich, historical tapestry of East African culture. It offers a compelling exploration of identity and displacement, set against the backdrop of the colonial era's intricate social dynamics. If you appreciate narratives that delve into themes of courage and transformation, this novel will undoubtedly resonate with you.

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Paradise is Abdulrazak Gurnah's fourth novel, a beautiful story of African life.

Shortlisted for the 1994 Booker Prize and published by Bloomsbury for the first time By the author of By The SeaAn Open University set text, and a core text for universities nationwide

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

By the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature 2021

A BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 1994

'A poetic and vividly conjured book about Africa and the brooding power of the unknown' — Independent on Sunday

'Lingering and exquisite' — Guardian

'An obliterated world is enthrallingly retrieved' — Sunday Times

Born in East Africa, Yusuf has few qualms about the journey he is to make. It never occurs to him to ask why he is accompanying Uncle Aziz or why the trip has been organised so suddenly, and he does not think to ask when he will be returning. But the truth is that his 'uncle' is a rich and powerful merchant and Yusuf has been pawned to him to pay his father's debts.

Paradise is a rich tapestry of myth, dreams and Biblical and Koranic tradition, the story of a young boy's coming of age against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.

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?

Abdulrazak Gurnah's Paradise has been praised for its multi-layered narrative and vivid depiction of Africa, blending elements of travel adventure, social commentary, and a doomed love story. Critics highlight its poetic prose and the novel's ability to evoke a lost African world, creating an immersive and universal tale that is both touching and haunting. The book's beauty lies in its ability to conjure both the physical and emotional landscapes with depth and clarity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780747573999

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 November 2004

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 184g

Pages: 256

Collections

Abdulrazak Gurnah Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

Abdulrazak Gurnah was born in 1948 in Zanzibar and teaches at the University of Kent. He is the author of the novels Memory of Departure, Pilgrims Way, Dottie, Paradise, Admiring Silence and By the Sea. His fourth novel, Paradise (1994) was shortlisted for both the Booker and the Whitbread Prizes.

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