The Star's critic MARIA DUARTE recommends an impressive impersonation of Bob Dylan
A fine evocation of today’s Nigeria
MARJORIE MAYO recommends the story of two families caught up in the riptides of wealth, power, romantic obsession and political corruption
The Star's critic MARIA DUARTE reviews Here, Vermiglio, William Tell and Wolf Man
New releases from Thorpe and Morrison, Daria Kulesh, and Will Finn and Rosie Calvert
RINA ARYA confronts the brutal operation of Francis Bacon’s approach to portraiture
Emphasising his continuous engagement in labour movement struggles, ALISTAIR FINDLAY salutes John Foster’s contribution as activist, strategist, intellectual and defender of the Morning Star
ANDY MIAH advocates the use of AI to assist people by expanding access to global literature and culture
EWAN KOTZ relishes a veteran Glasgow band that have lost none of their verve for live performance
A Spell of Good Things
Ayobami Adebayo
Canongate, £9.99
AYOBAMI ADEBAYO’S second novel has been widely praised for being eminently readable as well as extremely relevant, combining the personal with the political in 21st century Nigeria.
Set against the background of the restoration of democracy following years of military dictatorships, it shows a context fraught with the problems of rising inequalities, decaying public services and political corruption, along with gender inequalities and domestic violence.
More from this author
MARJORIE MAYO recommends a guide to sharing knowledge, freely available both to academics and communities
MARJORIE MAYO is enthralled by a new biography of the Martiniquan anti-colonialist and psychiatrist
MARJORIE MAYO lays out the foundations necessary to allow for learning that equips people to engage in collective struggle and progressive social change
MARJORIE MAYO praises a book that raises significant questions challenging the limitations of extreme forms of decolonisation
Similar stories
ANDY HEDGECOCK relishes a fine collection that demonstrates the short story’s relevance as entertainment, provocation and survival strategy
MARJORIE MAYO enjoys an engaging biography of an exceptional African-American novelist, anthropologist and folklorist
MARJORIE MAYO recommends a guide to sharing knowledge, freely available both to academics and communities
MARJORIE MAYO recommends a history of women who joined the armed struggle to eradicate apartheid