Another Gulmohar Tree
Published on 4. May 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
120 pages
978-1-84659-056-6 (ISBN)
Description
Usman is visiting post-war London from Pakistan when he meets a young aspiring artist called Lydia who has, like himself, come out of an unhappy marriage. Just as the lonely strangers' friendship begins to blossom into something deeper Usman has to return to Karachi, leaving Lydia behind. Two years later, Lydia impulsively abandons her life in London and boards a ship to Karachi, where the two are married. But as the years flit by Usman feels distanced from his life and realises that he hasn't noticed the buds of the gulmohar tree unfurl. A beautiful account of a marriage that is in turns wry and unashamedly romantic.
Reviews / Votes
'A lovely, strange and very moving novel. The colours and shape develop as you read while the couple's mutual understanding moves forward and upward over the years like two branches of blossom meeting at the top of the tree.' Ruth Padel 'In his splendid, dreamy Another Gulmohar Tree, Hussein gives us an indelible sense of two worlds - Karachi and London - in miniature, and the strong parable of a love story that endures over a lifetime.' Joseph Olshan 'Taut yet lush - like the flame-bright flowers of the gulmohar tree itself. At its heart it is a story of love, into which Aamer Hussein weaves all his remarkable skills of storytelling.' Kamila Shamsie 'We are lucky to have Hussein among us, telling us stories as few can, with his particular mixture of deep love, understanding, and sadness.' Amit ChaudhuriMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Saqi Books
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 202 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
258 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84659-056-6 (9781846590566)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Aamer Hussein was born in Karachi in 1955 and moved to London in the early 1970s. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and reviews regularly for the Independent and the TLS. Aamer has published four collections of short stories and a novella, Another Gulmohar Tree, which was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize Europe and South Asia 2010.