From the prize-winning author of WAHALA, a powerful de-colonial retelling of MANSFIELD PARK, exploring identity, culture, race and love

'A spirited exploration of culture and kinship' BONNIE GARMUS
'Deeply emotional and entertaining' EMMA STONEX, author of The Lamplighters
'Tugs at the heartstrings' DAMILARE KUKU, author of Nearly all the Men in Lagos are Mad
'______________
When Funke's mother dies in an accident in Lagos, she's sent to live with her maternal family in England. Against a backdrop of condescension and mild neglect, sensible Funke strives to fit in, determined to become one of them.

Free-spirited Liv has always wanted to break free of her joyless family, to be nothing like them. Fiercely protective of Funke, she at last has an ally. The two cousins give each other what they need most: love.

But the past casts long shadows and the choices made by their mothers haunt them, shaping the trajectory of their adult lives. Can they escape their legacy?

Witty, warm, hugely entertaining, This Motherless Land bridges three decades and two continents, delving into the thorny territories of race and culture and belonging. At its heart is a story about love and how it can make the difference between surviving and thriving.

Praise for This Motherless Land:

'A fierce and evocative retelling of Mansfield Park' BETH MORREY

'A spirited exploration of culture and kinship--of how we belong, and to whom' BONNIE GARMUS

'A fantastic book. Highly original' LIZ NUGENT, author of Strange Sally Diamond

'Proves that love has the power to save a life again and again. Deeply emotional and entertaining, this is a novel to treasure' EMMA STONEX, author of The Lamplighters

'Brilliantly observant, funny, moving and addictive read. I loved it' KATE SAWYER

'A vibrant coming-of-age story that explores love, longing and belonging in a multi-cultural family' CHARMAINE WILKERSON, bestselling author of Black Cake

'Utter perfection from start to finish, This Motherless Land broke my heart then put it back together.' LAURA MARSHALL, author of Friend Request

'Gripping and poignant' NITA PROSE, bestselling author of The Maid

'Beautiful, bold and addictive' DAISY BUCHANAN

'Completely brilliant. A compulsive re-telling of Mansfield Park, exploring home, family, love and community' JENNIE GODFREY, author of The List of Suspicious Things

'A proper, epic, family saga . . . I was obsessed. Nikki has written a classic' JO CALLAGHAN, author of In the Blink of an Eye

Nikki May, winner of The Comedy Women in Print Newcomer Award, 2022-23

About the Author

Born in Bristol and raised in Lagos, Nikki May is Anglo-Nigerian. Her critically acclaimed debut novel WAHALA won the Comedy Women In Print New Voice Prize, was longlisted for the Goldsboro Glass Bell Award and the Diverse Books Award, and is being turned into a major BBC TV drama series.

THIS MOTHERLESS LAND is her second novel.
Nikki lives in Dorset with her husband, two standard Schnauzers and way too many books. She should be working on her third book but is probably reading.

Twitter/X: @NikkiOMay
Instagram: @NikkiMayWriter

Reviews
A wonderfully nostalgic and moving novel about family, identity and belonging . . . This decades-spanning story is a compelling tour de force. * RED *
A spirited modern retelling of Mansfield Park set in Lagos and Somerset . . . Page-turning and cinematic * OBSERVER *
[A] warm, engaging retelling of Mansfield Park . . . a novel that celebrates the transformative power of friendship, love and home * MAIL ON SUNDAY *
A clever, fresh retelling of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, focusing on identity and family * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *
Utterly captivating - this book is beautiful, bold and addictive. I could read Nikki May's words forever. I felt bereft when I got to the end; I didn't want to leave Funke and Liv. This novel crackles with electricity and pulses with love. For me, May is a must-read author, and I think this is a book that readers will be falling in love with for years to come. She's one of the absolute best storytellers writing right now. * DAISY BUCHANAN *
A spirited exploration of culture and kinship--of how we belong, and to whom * BONNIE GARMUS, author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY *
A vibrant coming-of-age story * CHARMAINE WILKERSON *
A gripping and poignant family saga that illuminates the lasting bond between two extraordinary cousins. I was completely immersed in this entrancing story * NITA PROSE, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MAID and THE MYSTERY GUEST *
A proper, epic, family saga. The tale of Liv and Funke was utterly absorbing and I was obsessed. Nikki has written a classic. I loved it. * JO CALLAGHAN, author of IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE *
THIS MOTHERLESS LAND takes Nikki May's writing to new heights. It's a novel about so many things - identity, belonging and acceptance; sisterhood, family and forgiveness - all wrapped up in the most compulsive and moving story. Funke and Liv gripped me from the start and didn't let go - their bond proves, across continents and decades, through adversity, prejudices and sacrifice, that love has the power to save a life again and again. Deeply emotional and wildly entertaining, this is a novel to treasure * EMMA STONEX, author of THE LAMPLIGHTERS *
Moving, funny, warm and epic; a truly beautiful exploration of family and belonging. It's exceptional. * LIZZIE POOK *
At the core of it, This Motherless Land is a love story (not the romantic kind) between Liv and Funke, the cousins that life showed real pepper but they came out winning. Nikki May writes with the intent to tug at the heartstrings and she does exactly that with this book * DAMILARE KUKU *
Utter perfection from start to finish, This Motherless Land broke my heart then put it back together. * LAURA MARSHALL, author of FRIEND REQUEST *
Stunning. Beautiful. Instantly absorbing storytelling woven through with so much truth about family, childhood, culture and belonging. * LAUREN BRAVO, author of PRELOVED *
A fantastic book. Highly original * LIZ NUGENT *
A fierce and evocative retelling of Mansfield Park. Funke and Liv are cousins, united (and torn apart) by tragedy and neglect, finding their place in the world. It's a vivid, moving and epic family saga * BETH MORREY, author of SAVING MISSY *
A stunning new novel! A true delight of a story - beautiful and extremely enjoyable. A worthy follow-up to Wahala * DIPO FALOYIN, author of AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY *
Fresh and fearless, THIS MOTHERLESS LAND kept me furiously turning the pages late into the night. This ambitious, richly textured novel effortlessly explores family, culture, class and love, and cements May's position as a bold and powerful new voice. Her prose is as vibrant as her plotting - superb. * SARAH PEARSE, author of THE SANATORIUM *
Brilliantly observant, funny, moving and addictive read. I loved it * KATE SAWYER *
This Motherless Land is completely brilliant. Exploring questions around home, family, love and community, it is a compulsive re-imagining of Mansfield Park, told by the most wonderful, authentic characters. I loved it. * JENNIE GODFREY, author of A LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS *
A clever, modern retelling of Mansfield Park about grief and survival * GRAZIA *
A gorgeous, sweeping novel * i NEWSPAPER *
A smart, modern reimagining of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park * BA HIGH LIFE *
I fell in love with this re-telling of Mansfield Park . . . It is wonderful - a triumphant story of sisterhood, friendship, love, and finding your true self. -- Natasha Poliszczuk * Book(ish) *
This Motherless Land is an unmissable novel about identity, prejudice, sisterhood and grief * CULTUREFLY *
This clever novel offers both a riveting storyline and deep commentary on cultural difference and the impact of family history * REAL SIMPLE *



Book Information
ISBN 9780857527806
Author Nikki May
Format Hardback
Page Count 352
Imprint Doubleday
Publisher Transworld Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 457g
Dimensions(mm) 224mm * 143mm * 31mm