In 'Armadillo,' William Boyd weaves a riveting tale of a young London architect who finds himself entangled in the chaotic world of art, war, and redemption. As he grapples with ambition and personal betrayal, the protagonist embarks on a journey that challenges his ideals and redefines his understanding of truth and loyalty. Amidst the backdrop of the late 20th century's shifting cultural landscape, mysteries unravel, and friendships are tested. This thought-provoking novel delves into the complexities of human connection and the haunting choices that shape our lives. Will he find the courage to confront his past and reclaim his future?
By William Boyd
Published: 1998
"Life is a series of second chances, with each moment a fleeting opportunity to redefine who we are."
A social satire on Britain, featuring an insurance claims adjustor who descends from East European gypsies. He navigates the shoals of class with an invented past, matching wits with executives trying to diddle his company.
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“Life is a series of second chances, with each moment a fleeting opportunity to redefine who we are.”
Armadillo
By William Boyd
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
William Boyd is a distinguished British author and screenwriter, known for his intricately plotted narratives and rich character development. He gained prominence with novels such as 'A Good Man in Africa', which won the Whitbread Prize, and 'Any Human Heart', a poignant exploration of love and loss. Boyd's writing style is characterized by its wit, lyrical prose, and a keen psychological insight into his characters. He has also made significant contributions to literature through works like 'Restless', 'Waiting for Sunrise', and 'The Vanishing Futurist', demonstrating his versatility across various genres.
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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 'A delicious, important novel' The Times 'Alert, alive and gripping' Independent 'Some novels tell a great story and others make you change the way you look at the world. Americanah does both.' Guardian As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are fleeing the country if they can. Ifemelu--beautiful, self-assured--departs for America to study. She suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships and friendships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze--the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor--had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Thirteen years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze reignite their shared passion--for their homeland and for each other--they will face the toughest decisions of their lives. Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a richly told story of love and expectation set in today's globalized world.
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