A rare and brilliant story from Zadie Smith, taking us deep into the life of a young woman, Fatou, domestic servant to the Derawals and escapee from one set of hardships to another. Beginning and ending outside the Embassy of Cambodia, which happens to be located in Willesden, NW London, Zadie Smith's absorbing, moving and wryly observed story suggests how the apparently small things in an ordinary life always raise larger, more extraordinary questions. 'It's scale is superficially small, but its range is lightly immense; in the first couple of pages, the world from Ghana to London to Cambodia enters. It is a fiction of consequences both global and heartrenchingly intimate. This voice is global, plural and local, with a delicate grip on historic consequences...... Works on an awesomely global scale, and the relations of slavery and mastership are traced in both personal and international scale.' Philip Hensher, The Guardian 'Reading it is a bit like having a starter in a restaurant that is so good you wish you had ordered a big portion as a main course, only to realise, as you finish it, that it was exactly the right amount.' 'A perfect stocking-filler of a book that shows that short-form fiction can be as vibrant and as healthy as any densely realised full-length novel.' Louise Doughty, The Observer 'Smith serves up a smasher.' Leyla Sanai, The Independent On Sunday
Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith is a British author known for her insightful exploration of race, identity, and culture. Her most notable works include "White Teeth," "On Beauty," and "Swing Time." Smith's writing style is characterized by sharp wit, keen observation, and complex characters that reflect the complexities of modern society. She has made significant contributions to contemporary literature by challenging conventional narratives and pushing boundaries in terms of form and content. "White Teeth," her debut novel, is widely regarded as a modern classic and showcases Smith's talent for blending humor, social commentary, and poignant storytelling. Smith's impact on the literary genre can be seen in her ability to capture the nuances of human experience and provoke thought on important social issues.
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