(Eng) Small Worlds: THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER / Caleb Azumah Nelson / Penguin

THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING NOVEL

WINNER OF THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 2024

Dancing is the one thing that can solve Stephen's problems.

At Church with his family, the shimmer of Black hands raised in praise. With his band, making music speaking not just to their hardships, but their joys. Grooving with his best friend, so close their heads might touch. Dancing alone to his father's records, uncovering parts of a man he has never truly known. His youth, shame and sacrifice.

Stephen has only ever known himself in song. But what becomes of him when the music fades?

Set over the course of three summers, from South London to Ghana and back again, SMALL WORLDS is a novel about the worlds we build for ourselves. The worlds we live, dance and love within.

The one thing that can solve Stephen's problems is dancing. Dancing at Church, with his parents and brother, the shimmer of Black hands raised in praise; he might have lost his faith, but he does believe in rhythm. Dancing with his friends, somewhere in a basement with the drums about to drop, while the DJ spins garage cuts. Dancing with his band, making music which speaks not just to the hardships of their lives, but the joys too. Dancing with his best friend Adeline, two-stepping around the living room, crooning and grooving, so close their heads might touch. Dancing alone, at home, to his father's records, uncovering parts of a man he has never truly known.

Stephen has only ever known himself in song. But what becomes of him when the music fades? When his father begins to speak of shame and sacrifice, when his home is no longer his own? How will he find space for himself: a place where he can feel beautiful, a place he might feel free?

Set over the course of three summers in Stephen's life, from London to Ghana and back again, Small Worlds is an exhilarating and expansive novel about the worlds we build for ourselves, the worlds we live, dance and love within.


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Review
Nelson writes about closeness, with family, with lovers, with art, as careful, essential labour -- Raven Leilani, author of Luster

A mesmerising Peckham love story ― i

An affecting meditation on the migrant experience ― Guardian

Caleb Azumah Nelson's writing is touching, heartfelt, and musically rich -- Diana Evans

Small Worlds is an emotionally astute novel that cements this 29-year-old south London author as one of the UK's best. ― New Statesman

SMALL WORLDS is a miracle of observation, of attention and attunement. Caleb Azumah Nelson writes prose that is unmatched in its musicality and sensitivity. A gorgeous, rhapsodic, wise novel -- KATIE KITAMURA, author of INTIMACIES

In his beautiful new novel Nelson summons the sounds of Black Youth, love and discovery to the page. A celebration of the heart -- Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, author of CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS and FRIDAY BLACK

Caleb Azumah Nelson's Open Water was a slim masterpiece. His second novel, Small Worlds is a similarly lapidary coming-of-age story set over three years in the life of an extraordinary young man. ― Observer

About the author
Caleb Azumah Nelson is a 26-year-old British-Ghanaian writer and photographer living in South East London. His writing has been published in Litro. He was recently shortlisted for the Palm Photo Prize and won the People's Choice prize. OPEN WATER is his first novel.

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Small Worlds: THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
Caleb Azumah Nelson
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin; Heruitgave edition
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN13 ‏ : ‎ 9780241996041
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13 x 1.7 x 19.8 cm