This Mournable Body

ONE OF THE BBC’S 100 WOMEN FOR 2020

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 BOOKER PRIZE

‘MAGNIFICENT.’ Guardian ‘A MASTERPIECE.’ New York Times ‘MARVELLOUS.’ Sara Collins ‘EXTRAORDINARY.’ Madeleine Thien ‘HYPNOTIC.’ Daily Telegraph ‘SEARING.’ Sefi Atta ‘A MAVERICK VOICE.’ A Igoni Barrett ‘A MUST READ.’ Helon Habila ‘SUBTLE AND INTELLIGENT.’TLS ‘A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT.’ Literary Review ‘DAZZLING.’ FT

Here we meet Tambudzai, living in a youth hostel in downtown Harare after leaving a stagnant job. Proud, and yearning for success, Tambu attempts to make a new life for herself – but at every turn, she is faced with a fresh humiliation, until the contrast between the future she imagined and her daily reality ultimately drives her to a breaking point.

In this tense and psychologically charged novel, Tsitsi Dangarembga channels the hope and potential of one young girl and a fledgling nation to lead us on a journey to discover where lives go after hope has departed.