Tsitsi Dangarembga’s novels Nervous Conditions and The Book of Not were acquired by Faber in an announcement made on November 12, 2020.
Nervous Conditions (1988), The Book of Not (2006), and This Mournable Body (2018) are a trilogy that follow the story of Tambudzai, a protagonist that lives through Zimbabwean independence to today’s tribulations. The first in the trilogy has rightly been regarded as a classic of African literature and the second continues the tale. The Faber-published This Mournable Body which completes the trilogy is on the shortlist for the Booker Prize to be announced later today.
The two first books in the trilogy which have been under the Ayebia Clarke Publishing Limited have changed ownership in the last few days. Louisa Joyner, Associate Publisher, Faber has acquired World All Language rights in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s previous two novels from Karolina Sutton at Curtis Brown.
Tsitsi Dangarembga said: “I am delighted that all the volumes in the Tambudzai Trilogy will be published by Faber & Faber under Louisa Joyner’s dedicated and energetic management. This development brings Tambudzai’s story to many more readers, opening a window onto lives that otherwise might not have been seen by a global audience. Tambudzai’s story is the story of women on and off the African continent told in an African context. I believe it is a story that deserves attention.”
Louisa Joyner said: I feel absolute joy to be working with Tsitsi across the trilogy. These are major novels and they deserve the publishing heft, critical attention and huge numbers of readers that such a phrase entails. We’re really excited about the next phase of Tambudzai’s life in print and we look forward to seeing her profile grow around the world in the months and years to come.
The two books will be published in paperback in March 2021.
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