The Seers

The Seers is a novel that explores the sexual lives of refugees, presenting gender-fluid, trans, and androgynous African immigrants and insisting that the erotic and intimate side of life is as much a part of someone's story as land and nations are.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2024
Publisher: Prototype Publishing Ltd.

The Seers is a novel that follows the first years of a homeless Eritrean refugee in London. Set in a foster home in Kilburn and the squares of Bloomsbury, where its protagonist Hannah sleeps, the novel grapples with the question of how agency is given to the sexual lives of refugees, presenting gender-fluid, trans, and androgynous African immigrants, and insisting that the erotic and intimate side of life is as much a part of someone's story as land and nations are. Hannah arrives in London with her mother's diary, containing a disturbing sexual story taking place in Keren, Eritrea, where the Allies defeated the Italians in the Second World War. In a gripping, continuous paragraph, The Seers moves between the present day and the past to explore intergenerational histories, colonial trauma, and the realities of the UK asylum system and its impact on young refugees.

The novel begins with Hannah's arrival in London, where she is taken in by a foster family in Kilburn. The family is made up of a mother, a father, and two children, and Hannah is placed in a room with her own bed. However, Hannah's arrival is not without its challenges. She is a refugee, and her mother's diary contains a disturbing sexual story that takes place in Keren, Eritrea, where the Allies defeated the Italians in the Second World War.

The novel explores the intergenerational histories of the Eritrean community in London, and the colonial trauma that has shaped their lives. Hannah's mother, for example, was a victim of the Eritrean War of Independence, and her father was a political prisoner. These experiences have left Hannah with a deep sense of trauma and anxiety, and she struggles to find a sense of belonging in her new home.

The novel also explores the realities of the UK asylum system and its impact on young refugees. Hannah's case is particularly difficult, as she is a gender-fluid, trans, and androgynous African immigrant. The asylum system is designed to provide protection to those who are fleeing persecution, but it can be difficult for those who do not fit into the traditional gender binary. Hannah's case is complicated by the fact that she is a refugee, and the asylum system is not designed to accommodate her unique needs.

Despite these challenges, Hannah is determined to make a life for herself in London. She begins to explore the city, and she meets a group of African immigrants who are also struggling to find a sense of belonging. Through her interactions with these immigrants, Hannah begins to develop a sense of self-worth and identity.

One of the key themes of the novel is the erotic and intimate side of life. Hannah's mother's diary contains a disturbing sexual story, but it also reveals the beauty and complexity of human relationships. Hannah's experiences with her foster family and her interactions with the African immigrants help her to understand that the erotic and intimate side of life is as much a part of someone's story as land and nations are.

The novel also explores the role of art in healing. Hannah's mother's diary contains a series of poems and drawings, and these works help her to process her trauma and anxiety. Hannah begins to write her own poetry, and she finds that it helps her to connect with her emotions and to express herself.

In conclusion, The Seers is a powerful novel that explores the intergenerational histories of the Eritrean community in London, the colonial trauma that has shaped their lives, and the realities of the UK asylum system and its impact on young refugees. The novel presents gender-fluid, trans, and androgynous African immigrants, and it insists that the erotic and intimate side of life is as much a part of someone's story as land and nations are. Hannah's journey in London is a difficult one, but she is determined to make a life for herself, and her experiences with her foster family and the African immigrants help her to understand that the erotic and intimate side of life is as much a part of someone's story as land and nations are.

Weight: 112g
Dimension: 178 x 113 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913513511