Manchester Happened: From the winner of the Jhalak Prize, 2021

Description

Manchester Happened is a masterful collection of short stories by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, whose debut novel Kintu was published to great acclaim earlier this year. Set in Manchester and Kampala, the stories form a moving and powerful work about the experience of immigration and about how we treat each other as human beings, and makes an important contribution to one of the most pressing societal and political issues of the day. Following on from the huge success of Kintu, Manchester Happened - whose eponymous story won the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize - is an essential collection from an extraordinarily talented writer.

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, a Ugandan novelist and short story writer, has a PhD from Lancaster University. Her first novel, Kintu, won the Kwani? Manuscript Project in 2013 and her story 'Let's Tell This Story Properly' won the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. She lives in Manchester with her husband and son.

'A thoughtful writer who quietly, engagingly, pierces the reality of relocating to Britain. Manchester Happened explores the emotional nuance of the immigrant experience.' * Observer * 'Majestic...exactly the stories we all need.' * Los Angeles Times * 'Written with energy, passion and conviction, each one of the 12 stories is a jewel in its own right; collectively, they are a fascinating interrogation of the nature of identity and the pressing need for greater cultural integration.' * Harper's Bazaar * 'A masterpiece. This collection of short stories will resonate...with those who know intimately that the space between "here and back home" is more than just distance.' * African Arguments, Best books by African writers, 2019 * 'Manchester Happened glitters with... Makumbi's terrific turn of phrase... Dedicated to the 'fearless Ugandans in the diaspora' [Manchester Happened] provides an entertaining insight into their lives. It is a fascinating collection and confirms Makumbi as an exciting new voice.' * New Humanist * 'These short stories span generations who experienced migration from Uganda to Britain and back again. They explore harsh realities such as racism, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, family break-ups, alcoholism and the lingering effects of colonialism. But there is humour among the cultural misunderstandings, petty snobberies and petty jealousies.' * Irish Times * 'In her latest collection of short stories, Jennifer Makumbi speaks to the struggles of immigration... As much as their tone is light...they are also evidently indirectly political. You cannot run away from the searing undertones of alienation, struggle with identity, and finding a home away from home.' * The Star, (Kenya) * 'The poorest Ugandan migrant returns home to the family for ceremonies and it's at these awesome occasions that Makumbi's storytelling reaches its zenith. Humour ripples through even the most dire adventure... A treasure to be savoured.' * Country Style (Australia) *