A COMPELLING STORY CELEBRATING THE RESILIENCE OF TWO WOMEN AS THEY NAVIGATE WHAT REMAINS A STRONGLY PATRIARCHAL NIGERIA

"I absolutely loved his book. Nwabulu and Julie are incredible, fully formed and fully flaw, characters that walk straight off the page and nestle in your heart as you read on." Simon Savidge, The Frank Magazine

Nwabulu has been a housemaid since the age of ten but her dreams of becoming a typist are never weakened by the endless chores she is tasked with by her employers. She has fallen in love with a rich man's son.

Julie is a modern woman, educated and independent. She has no intention of becoming love-struck Eugene's second wife but allows herself to enjoy his extravagant gifts.

When dramatic events force Nwabulu and Julie into a dank room, the two women relate the stories of their contrasting experiences as they await their fate. Set against four decades of Nigerian history, The Son of the House is a stunning debut pulsing with vitality and intense human drama.

About the Author
Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia is a lawyer working in the areas of health, gender, and violence against women and children, and, since the publication of The Son of the House, one of Nigeria's brightest literary talents.

Reviews
"If you are going to read any new book on Nigeria, this one is it." -- Ikhide Ikheloa * Brittle Paper *
"The Son of the House is filled with drama and loss and hope, weaving together the lives of these women who help each other navigate the patriarchal society that threatens to smother them... Onyemelukwe-Onuobia leaves the readers with no choice but to identify with these women, to understand them and to feel their pain. It's beautifully written and intimate; an incredible first novel and hopefully the first of many." * City Press *
"A powerful and intimate narrative of bravery, of overcoming personal injustice, and having the strength to face difficult truths about oneself." * Sunday Times SA *
"Onyemelukwe-Onuobia's intimate study of the issues facing contemporary Nigeria resonates, and her masterly storytelling makes this consistently entertaining. The result is as moving as it is thought-provoking." * Publishers' Weekly *
"Told through a witty and lyrical perspective and language, the novel examines how class and inequality leave permanent imprints on people's lives. The book throbs with a kind of intensity and suspense that is bound to keep the reader invested in these characters' lives till the very end." * The Daily Star (Bangladesh) *


Awards
Short-listed for Nigeria Prize for Literature 2021 (Nigeria). Long-listed for The Scotiabank Giller Prize 2021 (Canada).



Book Information
ISBN 9781787702882
Author Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Europa Editions (UK) Ltd
Publisher Europa Editions (UK) Ltd