The Book of Secrets: A NovelThe Book of Secrets is a spellbinding novel of generations and the sweep of history which begins in 1988 in Dar es Salaam when the 1913 diary of a British colonial officer is found in a shopkeeper’s back room. The diary enflames the curiosity of a retired schoolteacher, Pius Fernandes, whose obsession with the stories it contains gradually connects the past with the present. Inhabiting the story is a memorable cast of characters, part of an Asian community in East Africa, whose lives and fates we follow over the course of seven decades. Rich in detail and description, M. G. Vassanji’s award-winning novel magnificently conjures setting and the realm of eras past as it explores the state of living in exile from one’s home and from oneself. |
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ADC's Akber Alfred Corbin Arab arrived askaris asked began Boyschool British brought buibui Bwana Bwana Corbin called colonial Dar es Salaam Desouza diary door East Africa European eyes face father Feroz Fisi Fumfratti German East girl Gregory Hamisi hands head heard Indian inside Jamali kanzu Kariakoo Khanoum Kikono knew later letters lived London looked M.G. Vassanji maalim Mariamu Maynard mbuyu tree Mbuyuni Miss Elliott Mombasa morning Moshi mosque mother mukhi mzungu Nairobi never night once pachedi perhaps Pipa Pipa's porters prayer Prince Aly Khan railway Remti returned Richard Gregory Rita Salaam servant Shamsi shetani shopkeeper sitting smile stood stopped street Sufi Swahili talked Tanga Taveta teacher tell thought told took town turned waiting walked watched wife woman women Young Jamali Zanzibar