Small Worlds
“Like his writing, Caleb Azumah Nelson’s narration employs a musical cadence… His voice is jazz-like—thick with moments of improvisation. The beauty of this story is in the author’s rhythmic poeticized narration.”
AudioFile
A Top 10 Sunday Times (London) bestseller
Winner of the 2024 Dylan Thomas Prize
Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction
Longlisted for the Jhalak Prize
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2023
Set over the course of three summers, this novel follows Stephen, a first-generation Londoner born to Ghanaian immigrant parents, brother to Ray, and best friend to Adeline.
On the cusp of big life changes, Stephen feels pressured to follow a certain path—a university degree, a move out of home—but when he decides instead to follow his first love, music, his world and family fracture in ways he didn’t foresee. Now Stephen must find a path and peace for himself: a space he can feel beautiful, a space he can feel free.
Small Worlds, ranging from London, England, to Accra, Ghana, and back again, is an exquisite and intimate new novel about the people and places we hold close, from one of the most important voices of a generation.
An exhilarating and expansive new novel about fathers and sons, faith and friendship from National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree and Costa First Novel Award winning author Caleb Azumah Nelson.
Praise