The Centre

The Centre is a thrillingly ambitious literary chiller that interrogates the sticky politics of language, translation, and appropriation. It follows Anisa Ellahi, who enrolls in an elite programme that promises complete fluency in any language in ten days, but at a disturbing hidden cost. The book takes the reader on a journey through Karachi, London, and New Delhi, interrogating the sticky politics of language, translation, and appropriation and asking what price would you be willing to pay for success.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 18 July 2024
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Anisa Ellahi, a young woman with a passion for literature, dreams of becoming a translator of great works of literature. However, she is currently stuck in her London flat, writing subtitles for Bollywood films. When she learns about the Centre, an exclusive program that promises to make her fluent in any language in just ten days, she is intrigued and decides to enroll. The Centre's services come with a disturbing hidden cost, but Anisa is willing to pay it, believing that success comes at a price. The novel takes the reader on a journey through Karachi, London, and New Delhi, exploring the sticky politics of language, translation, and appropriation. It raises questions about cultural appropriation, the power of language, memory, and privilege, and offers a Black Mirror-esque take on the world of language.

Weight: 222g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529097849