The Bead Collector

(Paperback)

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Lagos, January 1976, six years after the Nigerian Civil War.

A new military regime has been in power for six months, but rumors are spreading that a countercoup is imminent. At an art exhibition in the affluent Ikoyi neighborhood, Remi Lawal, a Nigerian woman who runs her own greeting-card shop, meets Frances Cooke, who introduces herself as an American art dealer, in Nigeria to buy rare beads. They become friends and over the next few weeks confide in each other about their aspirations, loyalties, marriage, motherhood and Nigeria itself, as hospitable Remi welcomes the enigmatic Frances into her world.

Remi's husband, Tunde, naturally suspects Frances like any American in Lagos of gathering intelligence for the CIA, yet she is unconvinced. Cynical about the country's unending instability, and alienated by the shallowness of the city's elite, she willingly shares her views with Frances. But the February 13 assassination of General Muhammed prompts Remi to reconsider one particular conversation with her new acquaintance in a different light. Her discouragement overcome by a reawakened sense of patriotism, she begins to doubt that the bead collector is who she claims to be. With her signature subtlety and wit, Sefi Atta examines a brief but profound friendship, and one Nigerian mother's yearning amid legacies of conflict and uncertainty to help build her country from home.

'Sefi Atta brings to exhilarating life the textures, rhythms and byzantine subtexts of this complex society.' Claire Messud, author of The Emperor's Children

'Atta is a seasoned, and masterful storyteller.' Lola Shoneyin, author of The Secret of Baba Segi's Wives

Reviews

A glimpse into the insular world of upper-class Nigeria during the mid-1970s... [a] fascinating combination of post-civil war Nigeria and good gossip. Kirkus Reviews; Witty, profound and illuminating, this will surely see its acclaimed author receive many more accolades. This immersive novel serves up many insights into Lagos life and politics, and Remi is a riveting narrator an intelligent, intriguing woman. Joanne Owen, Love Reading; With a penetrating appreciation for the universal beliefs and behaviours that have the potential to unite disparate groups, Atta digs deep into the multifaceted layers of Nigerian history and traditions in this keen and nuanced examination of her countrys tumultuous past. Booklist; Atta is a seasoned and masterful storyteller. Lola Shoneyin, author of The Secret Lives of Baba Segis Wives; This is the bonfire of Nigerian vanities in full display. The Bead Collector is an era-defining novel told with devastating wit and literary aplomb. Toni Kan, author of The Carnivorous City; In The Bead Collector, through Atta's deliciously irreverent and precise prose, we encounter a nuanced world of deftly crafted characters, a narrative distinct for its social and political complexity and biting humour. The beauty of the story rests in its deceptively steady pace and the carefully placed details that create a sense of mounting suspense and ultimately a deeply enjoyable reading experience. Yewande Omotoso, author of The Woman Next Door; Sefi Atta has crafted yet another stunning novel, a deeply compelling, illuminating story of personal and national identity in a time of great transition. Gayle Brandeis, author of The Book of Dead Birds, winner of the Bellwether Prize for Fiction of Social Engagement

Author Bio

Sefi Atta is the author of Swallow, News from Home, A Bit of Difference and Sefi Atta: Selected Plays. Sefi has received several literary awards, including the 2006 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa and the 2009 Noma Award for Publishing in Africa. Her radio plays have been broadcast by the BBC and her stage plays have been performed internationally. She divides her time between the USA, UK and Nigeria. Sefi Attas writing features in New Daughters of Africa, an anthology of women writers of African descent, edited by Margaret Busby. Everything Good Will Come and The Bead Collector were published in August 2019 and are available to buy now.