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The Promise

WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE

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The Promise

By: Damon Galgut
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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Brought to you by Penguin.

** WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 2021 **

This audiobook includes bonus content of Damon Galgut in conversation with Ted Hodgkinson, Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank Centre.

There is nothing unusual or remarkable about the Swart family, oh no, they resemble the family from the next farm and the one beyond that, just an ordinary bunch of white South Africans, and if you don't believe it then listen to us speak ...

The many voices of The Promise tell a story in four snapshots, each one centered on a family funeral, each one happening in a different decade. In the background, a different president is in power, and a different spirit hangs over the country, while in the foreground the family fights over what they call their farm, on a worthless piece of land outside Pretoria.

Over large jumps in time, people get older, faces and laws and lives all change, while a brother and sister circle around a promise made long ago, and never kept ...

'Astonishing' Colm Tóibín

'Gorgeous and pleasurable' Tessa Hadley

'The most important book of the last ten years' Edmund White

© Damon Galgut 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction World Literature Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Africa
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Critic reviews

A superb novel; a nuanced, sad, hilarious portrait of a family and a country (PAULA HAWKINS)
This story was so powerful, the writing so strong and supple... What an achievement (CLARE CHAMBERS)
A moving, brilliantly told family epic . . . darkly comic . . . phenomenally good (ELIZABETH DAY)
Layered, clever...with a gripping story (CLAIRE FULLER)
A brilliant book told over four decades and four funerals . . . These are characters dancing on the edge of ruin . . . Intoxicating (ANNA HOPE)
Astonishing . . . about fate and loss, about three siblings and land, a promise made a broken (COLM TOIBIN)
A remarkable tale of four generations of one South African family and of the country itself... No wonder it won the Booker
Vivid and suggestive, moving and often very funny
Outstanding . . . Gripping . . . There is also plenty of unexpected comedy
Brilliant... Rarely have I had such a strong sense, while reading a novel, that I myself was there, in the room with the characters
All stars
Most relevant
My fourth by this author and definitely the best and toughest. Extremely well written and the audible narrator does it justice. Recommend for all lovers of great literature and those interested in South Africa

Definitely a Booker contender

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A really interesting snapshot of a country through the eyes of one family over two generations.

A Great Snapshot of South Africa and

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The writing is vivid, the storytelling immersive, and the observation is raw, occasionally brutal. The narration is first rate, bringing the Afrikaans voices to life - a great plus for the audiobook, in my opinion.

Outstanding in every way

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Hatrowing read but compulsive. The people and storry was one that came alive but I wish it had been less harrowing .

vivid and searing storry telling

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An excellent performance which perfectly captures the sardonic humour and guides the reader through the multiple voices and leaping timeline. I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed this book, as none of the characters are likeable, though we have sympathy with a few. However Galgut's stunning writing and searing observations makes up for this. It's a book for the head, not the heart.

Stunningly good writing but dislikeable characters

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