A vivid and ambitious memoir, in many ways a prequel to The Devil that Danced on the Water, of several generations of African women as they struggle to balance ancient traditions with the encroaching mores of the West. At age 19, Aminatta Forna's mother left her hometown of Aberdeen, Scotland, to move with her African husband to Sierra Leone. Surrounded by an extended polygamous family that included her grandfather's fifteen wives, some sixty aunts and countless cousins, Forna spent her first decade in the small town of ...
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A vivid and ambitious memoir, in many ways a prequel to The Devil that Danced on the Water, of several generations of African women as they struggle to balance ancient traditions with the encroaching mores of the West. At age 19, Aminatta Forna's mother left her hometown of Aberdeen, Scotland, to move with her African husband to Sierra Leone. Surrounded by an extended polygamous family that included her grandfather's fifteen wives, some sixty aunts and countless cousins, Forna spent her first decade in the small town of Koidu before being sent to England for boarding school. In her new book, she draws on the rich oral history of her aunts to tell of a culture torn between ancient traditions and tantalising new Western goods and ideas: the enslavement and emancipation of her great grandmother, the daughter of a king, who received a large dowry when she married as a free woman; the scandal of Aminatta's own marriage to a British man, who paid no dowry for her and whose customs required her to fund the wedding; the story of Etta, who as a girl in the 1980s watched as other girls her age were given gifts and new clothes for their initiation into a women's secret society. Families like Etta's no longer participated, but Etta begged to go. Her mother conceded without argument, sending her daughter off to a painful and horrifying circumcision by the Bondu elders. Rich in detail of time and place, the narrative stretches back to pre-colonial Africa through colonialism, independence and civil war. Though some women grew up and married into traditional polygamous relationships, others lived in the West on the cusp of cultural change, where prescribed emotions such as love caused confusion. Interweaving a range of personal tales, Aminatta Forna has composed a moving and vivid account of women, family and Africa.
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Very good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Good. Please note: slight discolouration to edge of pages Next day dispatch (mon-fri). Please note orders sent to Netherlands or Sweden take slightly longer than the Amazon estimated delivery date.
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Pages and cover are intact. Used book in good and clean conditions. Limited notes marks and highlighting may be present. May show signs of normal shelf wear and bends on edges. Item may be missing CDs or access codes. May include library marks.
