The History of a Difficult Child

In 1980s southwestern Ethiopia, Selam is the youngest child in a large, tumultuous family. She and her father listen to the radio in secret as the socialist military junta seizes properties and wages civil war in the North. Selam's mother, Degitu, embraces a persecuted, Pentecostal God and insists her family convert alongside her. Selam grows up seeking revenge on despotic comrades, neighborhood bullies, and a ruthless God.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2024
Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Elif Batuman's novel "The History of a Difficult Child" is a captivating exploration of the life of Selam, the youngest child in a large, tumultuous family living in a small town in southwestern Ethiopia during the 1980s. Despite being born prematurely, Selam possesses an extraordinary omniscience that infuses life in the town. While her father and family secretly listen to the radio to hear about the socialist military junta that has recently overthrown the government and initiated a civil war in the North, the Asmelashes, once an enterprising and land-owning family, are ostracized under the new regime.

In the bustling community where they reside, nosy women gather around coffee ceremonies multiple times a day, spreading gossip like wildfire. As Selam's mother, Degitu, grows ill and embraces a persecuted, Pentecostal God, she insists that her family convert alongside her. The Asmelashes, known for their unwavering opposition to the times, stand firm in their beliefs, and Selam grows up harboring a deep desire for revenge against despotic comrades, neighborhood bullies, and an unforgiving God.

Wise beyond her years yet thoroughly naive, Selam grapples with an inner fury, profound sadness, and an unstoppable pursuit of education, freedom, and love. The novel delves into the complexities of navigating conflicting loyalties and the search for identity in a society grappling with political turmoil and social change. Through Selam's experiences, Batuman sheds light on the resilience of the human spirit and the power of storytelling to transcend difficult circumstances. "The History of a Difficult Child" is a poignant and powerful exploration of the human condition, offering a glimpse into the lives of individuals who must navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 242 x 164 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784744373