SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD AND LONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZETo Arjan Banga, returning to the Black Country after the unexpected death of his father, his family s corner shop represents everything he has tried to leave behind a lethargic pace of life, insular rituals and ways of thinking. But when his mother insists on keeping the shop open, he finds himself being dragged back, forced into big decisions about his imminent marriage back in London and uncovering the history of his broken family the elopement and mixed-race marriage of his aunt Surinder, the betrayals and loyalties, loves and regrets that have played out in the shop over more than fifty years.Taking inspiration from Arnold Bennett s classic novel The Old Wives Tale, Marriage Material tells the story of three generations of a family through the prism of a Wolverhampton corner shop itself a microcosm of the South Asian experience in the country: a symbol of independence and integration, but also of darker realities.This is an epic tale of family, love, and politics, spanning the second half of the twentieth century, and the start of the twenty-first. Told with humour, tenderness and insight, it manages to be both a unique and urgent survey of modern Britain by one of Britain s most promising young writers, and an ingenious reimagining of a classic work of fiction.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD AND LONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BOY WITH THE TOPKNOT AND EMPIRELAND
'Enormously enjoyable' SUNDAY TIMES
'A satirical masterpiece' TELEGRAPH
'Sanghera's tender and funny book is a cracking and pacy read' OBSERVER
'A stunning novel . . . touching and funny and feels so fresh . . . it just leaps off the page. I adored it' DEBORAH MOGGACH
'Impressive' GUARDIAN
'Entertaining' INDEPENDENT
When Arjan returns to the Black Country after his father's death, his family's corner shop represents everything he tried to leave behind. But his mother insists on keeping the business open, and Arjun finds himself being dragged back from London, and forced into big decisions about his own relationship. Yet Arjan's story isn't the first and it won't be the last: Surinder and Kamaljit, two sisters, a generation back in the family, also experienced their own share of betrayals and loyalties, loves and regrets.
Praise for Empireland
'A fascinating reckoning with a history of empire' GUARDIAN
'I only wish this book had been around when I was at school' SADIQ KHAN
'Balanced and insightful' THE TIMES
'This immensely readable book is very timely' FINANCIAL TIMES
'An important book' NEW STATESMAN
