Praise for Paradise:
“An evocative portrait of Africa on the brink of change. . . . A poignant meditation on the nature of freedom and the loss of innocence, for both a single sensitive boy and an entire continent.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“Gurnah masterfully interweaves Yusuf’s story with the larger historical forces transforming the continent, all in a lush, seductive language that revels in its powers of storytelling.”
—Los Angeles Times
“Vibrant. . . . Powerful. . . . Evokes the Edenic natural beauty of a continent on the verge of full-scale imperialist takeover by the European powers. . . . Gurnah conjures a cauldron of animosities among African Muslims, Indian merchants, European farmers, and native tribes.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A fascinating coming-of-age story and an indictment of the European colonization of Africa, with side ventures into African social and religious dynamics . . . warmly recommended.”
—Library Journal (starred review)
“Well, home is a complicated concept….So you’ve shaken me awake at three o’clock in the morning. Where’s home? I’ll say Zanzibar without hesitation. Oh, but then on the other hand, I’ve been living here and working here for 50 years, my family, my children, and my grandchildren live here. The idea that this is not […]