Chris Abanis Debütroman erzählt die Geschichte von Elvis Oke, einem Teenager, der im chaotischen, überquellenden und bunten Ghetto Maroko in Lagos, der Hauptstadt Nigerias, sein hartes Leben führt. Von amerikanischen Filmen, Büchern und Musik inspiriert, versucht sich Elvis, die Haut mit Schichten von Make-up weiß geschminkt, als Elvis-Presley-Imitator durchzuschlagen und ein paar Dollars von Touristen zu ergattern - stoisch, unermüdlich zu blechernen Radioklängen übend. Er hat zu kämpfen mit seinem gebrochenen Vater, der Stiefmutter und seinen Stiefgeschwistern und der Gewalt des täglichen Lebens unter einem brutalen Regime. Dann läßt sich Elvis, von ständigen Geldsorgen geplagt, zu einer Reise in Lagos' kriminelle Unterwelt überreden - beschützt vom "König der Bettler", einem rätselhaften und loyalen Freund. Vor dem Zugriff des Staates und der Inhaftierung kann er Elvis dennoch nicht bewahren. Elvis übersteht, wie Chris Abani selbst, die Haftzeit und die Folter, kann sich retten und seinen eigenen Weg nach "GraceLand" finden.
Chris Abani Bücher
Christopher Abani ist ein nigerianischer Autor, dessen Werk tiefgreifend von seinen Erfahrungen als politischer Häftling und Überlebender der Todeszelle geprägt ist. Seine Schriften erforschen oft Themen wie Identität, Widerstandsfähigkeit und die Komplexität des menschlichen Geistes unter Zwang. Durch lebendige Prosa und unerschrockene Ehrlichkeit schafft Abani Erzählungen, die mit tiefem Einblick in die Kämpfe und Triumphe der Marginalisierten resonieren. Seine einzigartige Perspektive bietet den Lesern eine kraftvolle Linse, durch die sie gesellschaftliche Ungerechtigkeiten und die beständige Stärke der Menschheit untersuchen können.






Feed Me the Sun: Collected Long Poems
- 220 Seiten
- 8 Lesestunden
Imaginative and witty, this poetry collection showcases a vibrant energy and a profound beauty of expression, drawing on themes from contemporary life, history, and art. The poems range from meditative to narrative, often highlighting extreme situations where compassion and individual determination prevail. Notable works include "Daphne's Lot," which delves into the life of an Englishwoman during the Nigerian civil war, and "Buffalo Women," an epistolary sequence exploring love amid the American Civil War. Through irony and empathy, the collection presents characters in conflict with their societies.
Kalakuta Republic
- 116 Seiten
- 5 Lesestunden
A collection of poems detailing the harrowing experiences endured by Chris Abani and others at the hands of Nigeria's military regime in the late 1980s. In the poems, Abani describes the characters that people the dark world of the prison cells, from the inmates to their torturers, the generals. schovat popis
Dog Woman
- 112 Seiten
- 4 Lesestunden
The collection delves into the themes of disempowerment and power through a series of poignant and complex poems. The poet reconstructs his feminized identities, showcasing a spectrum of emotions from outrage to compassion. The voices of women throughout the work resonate with authenticity as they express their struggles and resilience, navigating the challenges of their worlds. With its lyrical depth and emotional range, this collection stands out as a significant contribution to contemporary poetry, offering a bold exploration of human experience.
The Face: Cartography Of The Void
- 96 Seiten
- 4 Lesestunden
Nigerian-born author and poet Chris Abani gives a profound and gorgeously wrought short memoir that navigates the stories written upon his own face. Beginning with his early childhood immersed in the lgbo culture of West Africa, Abani unfurls a lushly poetic, insightful, and funny narrative that investigates the roles that race, culture, and language play in fashioning our sense of self
"A collection of poems by Chris Abani"-- Provided by publisher
The Secret History of Las Vegas
- 319 Seiten
- 12 Lesestunden
A gritty, riveting, and wholly original murder mystery from PEN/Hemingway Award-winning author and 2015 Edgar Awards winner Chris Abani Before he can retire, Las Vegas detective Salazar is determined to solve a recent spate of murders. When he encounters a pair of conjoined twins with a container of blood near their car, he’s sure he has apprehended the killers, and enlists the help of Dr. Sunil Singh, a South African transplant who specializes in the study of psychopaths. As Sunil tries to crack the twins, the implications of his research grow darker. Haunted by his betrayal of loved ones back home during apartheid, he seeks solace in the love of Asia, a prostitute with hopes of escaping that life. But Sunil’s own troubled past is fast on his heels in the form of a would-be assassin. Suspenseful through the last page, The Secret History of Las Vegas is Chris Abani’s most accomplished work to date, with his trademark visionary prose and a striking compassion for the inner lives of outsiders.
Daphne's Lot
- 114 Seiten
- 4 Lesestunden
Focusing on the maturation of a young Englishwoman, the poems explore her deep connections to family, husband, and her adopted country, Nigeria. The narrative intertwines personal growth with themes of identity and resilience, illuminating the narrator's soul amidst the backdrop of political turmoil and war. This poignant collection evokes both sorrow and wonder, offering a profound reflection on the power of individual will and imagination in the face of chaos, making it a relevant and instructive tale for contemporary readers.
Hands Washing Water
- 83 Seiten
- 3 Lesestunden
Chris Abani’s fourth poetry collection, Hands Washing Water, is a mischievous book of displacement, exile, ancestry, and subversive humor. The central section, “Buffalo Women,” is a Civil War correspondence between lovers that plays on our assumptions about war, gender, morality, and politics. Abani’s writing is ruthless, boldly engages with trauma, and is filled with surprising twists and turns.
A Song for Night
- 140 Seiten
- 5 Lesestunden
Trained as a human mine detector, My Luck, a boy soldier in West Africa witnesses and takes part in unspeakable brutality. At 12 his vocal cords are cut to prevent him from screaming and giving away his platoon's presence, should he be blown up.
