Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Twelve protagonists – mostly black and British – star in the latest acclaimed novel from award-winning author Bernadine Evaristo.
From the publisher: “Teeming with life and crackling with energy – a love song to modern Britain, to black womanhood, to the ever-changing heart of London.”
From Booker Judge Xiaolu Guo: “A must-read about modern Britain and womanhood. This is an impressive, fierce novel about the lives of black British families, their struggles, pains, laughter, longings and loves. With a dazzling rhythm, Evaristo takes us on a journey of intergenerational stories, moving through different spaces and heritages: African, Caribbean, European. Her 12 main characters manifest the highs and lows of our social life. They are artists, bankers, teachers, cleaners, housewives, and are at various stages of womanhood, from adolescence to old age. Her style is passionate, razor-sharp, brimming with energy and humour. There is never a single moment of dullness in this book and the pace does not allow you to turn away from its momentum. The language wraps the reader by force, with the quality of oral traditions and poetry. As the author herself stated perfectly: ‘One of my aims as a writer is to explore the hidden narratives of the African diaspora, to play with ideas, conjure up original and innovative fiction and forms, and to subvert expectations and assumptions.’ This is a novel that deserves to be read aloud and to be performed and celebrated in all kinds of media.”