Behold the Dreamers: An Oprah’s Book Club pick - Softcover

Mbue, Imbolo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0008237999 ISBN 13: 9780008237998

Publisher: Fourth Estate, 2017

Synopsis

WINNER OF THE 2017 PEN/FAULKNER AWARD
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
AN OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR
AN OPRAH BOOK CLUB PICK

‘A formidable storyteller’ Jonathan Franzen

‘Savage and compassionate in all the right places’ New York Times Book Review

‘Eerily timely ... bittersweet and buoyant’ Jessie Burton

New York, 2007. After two long years apart, Jende Jonga has brought his wife Neni from Cameroon to join him in the land of opportunity. Drawn by the promise of America they are seeking the chance of a better life for them and their son.

When Jende lands a dream job as chauffeur to a Lehman Brothers executive, Neni finds herself taken into the confidence of his glamorous wife Cindy. The Edwards are powerful and privileged: dazzling examples of what America can offer to those who are prepared to strive for it.

But when the financial world is rocked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, all four lives are dramatically upended. As faultlines appear in both marriages and secrets bubble to the surface they must all decide how far they will go in pursuit of their dreams. And what will they sacrifice along the way?

‘A marvellous debut... as deeply insightful as it is delightfully entertaining’ Taiye Selasi

About this title

Review

‘There are no heroes in this marvellous debut, only nuanced human beings. A classic tale with a surprise ending, as deeply insightful as it is delightfully entertaining’ Taiye Selasi

‘As a dissection of the American Dream, Imbolo Mbue’s first novel is savage and compassionate in all the right places’ New York Times

‘There’s an innovative focus to this warm-hearted and timely debut. Cleverly created by fielding more than once class of New York dreamer’ The Sunday Times

‘Mbue crafts a satire of unusual subtlety.’ Observer

The cultural and racial observations are fresh, interesting and never laboured‘ Irish Times

‘There are a lot of spinning plates and Mbue balances them skilfully, keeping everything in motion. Even more impressive is the vitality that gleams through the film of gloom as the story becomes less about the Jonga family from day to day than about their efforts to make peace with their fate, whatever and wherever that might be’ Scotland on Sunday

‘A debut novel that illuminates the immigrant experience in America with the tender-hearted wisdom so lacking in our political discourse . . . Mbue is a bright and captivating storyteller’ Washington Post

‘Mbue writes with great confidence and warmth . . . A capacious, big-hearted novel’ New York Times Book Review

From the Back Cover

WINNER OF THE 2017 PEN/FAULKNER AWARD
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
AN OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR

'A formidable storyteller' Jonathan Franzen

'Savage and compassionate in all the right places' New York Times Book Review New York, 2007: a city of dreamers, all jostling for a place on the ladder of success. Jende Jonga, newly arrived from Cameroon, has just set his foot on the first rung. He is chauffeur to Clark Edwards, a senior partner at Lehman Brothers - a man too preoccupied to check the paperwork of his latest employee.

Jende's job draws him, his wife Neni and their young son into the privileged orbit of the city's financial elite. And when Clark's wife Cindy offers Neni work and takes her into her confidence, the couple begin to believe that the land of opportunity might finally be opening up for them.

But there are troubling cracks in their employers' facades, and when the deep fault lines running beneath the financial world are exposed, the Edwards' secrets threaten to spill out into the Jonga's lives.

Faced with the loss of all they have worked for, each couple must decide how far they will go in pursuit of their dreams - and what they are prepared to sacrifice along the way.

About this edition

• Publisher: Fourth Estate
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0008237999
• ISBN 13: 9780008237998
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 400