Telling the desperate, enthralling and inspiring story of Sudan's Mahdist War through a group of vividly drawn characters, River Spirit is a moving and powerful tale of family, freedom and fighting for what you believe in.
1890s Sudan. When Akuany and her brother are orphaned in a village raid, they are taken in by a young merchant, Yaseen, who promises to care for them - a vow that tethers him to Akuany through their adulthood.
As revolution begins to brew, led by the self-proclaimed Mahdi, Sudan begins to prise itself from Ottoman rule, and everyone must choose a side. Yaseen feels beholden to stand against this false Mahdi, a decision that threatens to splinter his family. Meanwhile, Akuany moves through her young adulthood and across the country alone, sold and traded from house to house, with only Yaseen as her intermittent lifeline. Their struggle mirrors the increasingly bloody struggle for Sudan itself - for freedom, safety and the possibility of love.
River Spirit is the unforgettable story of a people who, against the odds and for a brief time, gained independence from foreign rule through their willpower, subterfuge and sacrifice.
Publisher: Saqi Books
ISBN: 9780863569173
Number of pages: 320
Weight: 430 g
Dimensions: 225 x 144 x 25 mm
‘A novel of extraordinary sympathy and insight … a wonderful achievement.’ Abdulrazak Gurnah, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature 'River Spirit had me gripped from the first page. This is real history, imagined in splendid detail – a story of ordinary people caught in extraordinary times. River Spirit is a triumph of storytelling.’ Aminatta Forna ‘Aboulela’s writing soars. She joins writers like Maaza Mengiste, Namwali Serpell and Ayesha Haruna Atta in excavating history, breathing life into it and presenting it in a new light. It is so far my best read this year.’ Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi ‘In rich, evocative detail, Aboulela captures one of the most important moments in Sudanese history. You must read this.’ Dolen Perkins-Valdez ‘Leila Aboulela weaves together strands of Sudan’s history in this fascinating and unforgettable tale. Aboulela uses elegant and poetic prose to create a masterpiece. This is a story that demands to be read.’ Goretti Kyomuhendo ‘Painted with the words of an artist, this novel is a historical portrait of freedom. Aboulela skilfully draws the uncertain colours of what freedom means to different individuals in a Mahdist Sudan to the last full stop.' Zukiswa Wanner
Captivating … Through a compelling chorus of voices … Aboulela unspools the fraught story of Sudan, as freedom and faith do battle.' - Daily Mail
‘Dazzling … A love story that endures’ - New York Times
Having been privileged to read a pre-publication copy of River Spirit, I look forward to reading this spellbinding story in its final, published version. From start to finish I was hooked. Within the love story of... More
I came to this novel with virtually no knowledge of Sudan and certainly knowing very little about the country’s history. There is a very helpful map at the beginning of the book.
Akuany and her brother Bol have been...
More
Please sign in to write a review
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?