The Nobel Prize is the highest award one can win in the field of literature. Those who have won this award have engraved their names permanently in the field of literature. Over the years, 25 Africans have won this prize. Wole Soyinka is the only Nigerian to have won this award. Another African who has won this award is Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Tanzanian-born British author. The fact that these individuals have engraved their names permanently in the field of literature means there is one thing spectacular about them, right? This is one of the reasons why I ventured into reading books written by Nobel Laureates.
Desertion by Abdulrazak Gurnah is a novel that was first published in 2005. It is set in Tanzania during the First World War. To fully appreciate the book, it is important to know about the author’s background before diving into the book. Abdulrazak Gurnah is a Tanzanian who lived his childhood in Zanzibar (a place in Tanzania). He witnessed the effects of colonialism in his country. His experiences and background are evident in his works as he explores the impact of colonialism on individuals and communities.
The novel is written from the first person point of view. Out of the ten chapters in the book, 9 of them were narrated by Rashid, while the 10th one was narrated by Amin, his brother. The novel opens with Hassanali, who is in charge of opening the mosque every morning. On his way to the mosque, he stumbles upon a stranger who is ill. The man is Martin Pearce, a European explorer. Despite the history between the Zanzibans and the Europeans, Hassanali helps Martin Pearce out of concern.
Hassanali brings Martin Pearce back to his home, where his unmarried sister, Rehana, tends to his injury. It turns out that Martin Pearce was robbed by three Somali escorts during a hunting expedition. As the plot progresses, Martin Pearce regains consciousness and sees Rehana, with whom he falls in love immediately. Rehana was married to Azad, but he deserted her for his hometown and never returned. At 22, she is considered rather old to remarry. As the plot progresses, Martin Pearce and Rehana fall in love with each other. Of course, their relationship is frowned upon by society. The climax of the novel ignites when Martin Pearce impregnates Rehana and then deserts her.
The next part of the book jumps to the 1950s during the period of colonialism. The author introduces four characters; Rashid who is studying for Oxbridge, Amin, a school teacher, Farida, an academic failure, and Jamila, Rehana’s granddaughter who is considered to be a taboo (her mother, Rehaba married a white man). They all navigate a colonialist-stricken country. In search of greener pastures, Rashid deserts his country to another place.
As I mentioned above, Abdulrazak Gurnah is a Nobel Prize winner. He has published 12 books, and Desertion is one of my favorites. I enjoy reading Gurnah’s works because they are powerful reminders of our shared history. In Desertion, Gurnah explores the issue of desertion that plagued Zanzibar during the colonial era, where people left their homes, families, and friends for better opportunities. Through Rashid’s story, we see the impact of colonialism on individuals and communities.
I was impressed by Abdulrazak’s skillful use of narrative techniques, which made the book impossible to drop. One technique that stood out was the use of suspense. I found myself eagerly turning pages, eager to know what happened next. I did not see the twists and turns coming. The complex relationships, like the ill-fated love between Martin Pearce, a European, and Rehana, an African who had experienced the trauma of colonialism, kept me invested. A part of me hoped that they’d defy societal expectations and find a way to be together forever. I was eager to know the outcome of their relationship, and as we would have it, it ended in doom and regrets. Similarly, Rashid's story, with his decision to leave his family to study and work in London, left me wondering if he'd return to support them, and what consequences his choices would have. The use of suspense kept me glued until I completed the book.
I liked Gurnah's use of suspense, foreshadowing, and simple plot, but I found the ending mostly disagreeable. It's hard to imagine that even after deserting his family to study abroad, securing a decent job, and continuing to send letters, he didn't send a single dime to his family back home. Even when he learned about his mother's deteriorating eyesight, which later led to her death, he still didn't send any financial support.
Summarily, Desertion by Abdulrazak Gurnah is a masterpiece. I'm giving it a solid 4/ 5 rating. I highly recommend 'Desertion' by Abdulrazak Gurnah to all book lovers! This novel is a great read, with a simple plot.
Thanks for reading.