Rose and the Burma Sky: The heartrending unrequited love story of a black soldier in the Second World War

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For readers of Yaa Gyasi, Toni Morrison and Richard Flanagan - gripping historical novel of a black soldier's experience in the Second World War - a rare and moving tale of love and sacrifice by the critically acclaimed author of THE BOOK OF ECHOES. An Independent Best Books for Summer Pick 'Powerful, lyrical, and with a central character so wracked with love, he goes to war, deeply relatable' ANN NAPOLITANO, author of Hello Beautiful 'Wholly beguiling and spirited' THE TIMES 'Emotionally resonant and lyrical story of one young man's heartbreak, set against the trauma of a world falling apart' IRISH TIMES 'Stunning. Both an unrequited love story and a mystery. It will live with me for a long time. JENDELLA BENSON Most Anticipated Books 2023- COSMOPOLITAN, GLAMOUR, THE FLOOR, HUFFINGTON POST, THE BLACK BRITISH LIST and BRITTLE PAPER For readers of Toni Morrison, Richard Flanagan and BURMA BOY - gripping and intimate historical novel of a black soldier's experience in the Second World War - a rare and moving tale of love and sacrifice by the acclaimed author of THE BOOK OF ECHOES. ------------------------------------- One war, one soldier, one enduring love 1939- In a village in south-east Nigeria on the brink of the Second World War, young Obi watches from a mango tree as a colonial army jeep speeds by, filled with soldiers laughing and shouting, their buttons shining in the sun. To Obi, their promise of a smart uniform and regular wages is hard to resist, especially as he has his sweetheart Rose to impress and a family to support. Years later, when Rose falls pregnant to another man, his heart is shattered. As the Burma Campaign mounts, and Obi is shipped out to fight, he is haunted by the mystery of Rose's lover. When his identity comes to light, Obi's devastation leads to a tragic chain of unexpected events. In ROSE AND THE BURMA SKY, Rosanna Amaka weaves together the realities of war, the pain of first love and how following your heart might not always be the best course of action. Its gritty boy's-eye view brings a spare and impassioned intensity, charging it with universal resonance and power. ___________ 'Refreshing. Vividly conveys how the historical injustice of colonialism continues to reverberate' GUARDIAN

Reviews

Part love story, party mystery. Superb * GLAMOUR, Best Books for February *
[H]er narrative soars ... Amaka's perspective is refreshing. She vividly conveys how the historical injustice of colonialism continues to reverberate down the decades. * OBSERVER *
An emotionally resonant and lyrically written story of one young man's heartbreak, set against the trauma of a world falling apart * IRISH TIMES *
Tackling themes of war, colonialism and first love, this novel follows a boy from a Nigerian village on the cusp of the Second World War. * COSMOPOLITAN, The Best New Books Out in February 2023 *
Amaka's evocation of Nigeria's part in the war is wholly beguiling and this spirited novel animates some shamefully unknown history * THE TIMES *

Author Bio

Rosanna Amaka was born in the UK and is of African and Caribbean heritage. Her debut novel, The Book of Echoes, was shortlisted for the Authors' Club First Novel Award, the RSL Christopher Bland Prize and the HWA Debut Crown Award. Rose and the Burma Sky is her second novel and was inspired by a conversation with her grandmother while they were watching a war film in which all the soldiers were white. Rosanna lives in London. Meet her on Twitter @RosannaAmaka