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Chris Abani


Nigeria (b.1966)

Chris Abani is a Nigerian poet and novelist and the author of The Virgin of Flames, Becoming Abigail (a New York Times Editor's Choice), and GraceLand (a selection of the Today Show Book Club and winner of the 2005 PEN/Hemingway Prize and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award). His other prizes include a PEN Freedom to Write Award, a Prince Claus Award, and a Lannan Literary Fellowship. He lives and teaches in California.
 

Genres: Mystery
 
New and upcoming books
Novels
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Collections
   Kalakuta Republic (poems) (2000)
   Daphne's Lot (poems) (2003)
   Dog Woman (poems) (2004)
   Hands Washing Water (poems) (2006)
   Feed Me the Sun (poems) (2010)
   Sanctificum (poems) (2010)
   There Are No Names for Red (poems) (2010)
   New-Generation African Poets (poems) (2017) (with Kwame Dawes)
   Smoking the Bible (poems) (2022)
   Tisa: New-Generation African Poets (poems) (2023) (with Kwame Dawes)
   Kumi: New-Generation African Poets (poems) (2024) (with Kwame Dawes)
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Novellas and Short Stories
   Becoming Abigail (2006)
   Song for Night (2007)
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Series contributed to
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Non fiction show
 
Chris Abani recommends
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A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens (2023)
Raul Palma
"The modern thriller, fantasy, magic, horror and the literary immigrant novel overlap in this at turns darkly funny, at turns heartbreaking and always disruptive debut from Raul Palma. In the ways that Walter Mosley maps and curates Los Angeles and its underbelly, Palma maps Miami - bringing the same intimacy and nuance to his cartography of place and character. Through elegant prose we follow Hugo Contreras on an epic quest for self and to resolve duty and love and redemption."
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The History of a Difficult Child (2023)
Mihret Sibhat
"Mihret Sibhat's The History of a Difficult Child signals the emergence of a major new writing talent. Not only does the novel confront history, masculinity, and gender in refreshing but uncompromising ways, it also has a remarkably original voice, fresh and irreverent. This, combined with the unexpected reimagining of the novel form, her elegant and accessible language, and her deft hand at tragicomedy, ensures Sibhat will soon be one of the most influential voices in the literature of Africa. I am sure this is only the first of many important books that will come from this gifted writer."
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Flight Risk (2021)
Joy Castro
"Joy Castro writes with a balanced urgency—elegant sentences tempered with grace and intelligence, clear and gripping character arcs and story lines—and with a depth and dimension that leans into the transformative. Another strong book."

More recommendations 


Anthologies containing stories by Chris Abani

Awards
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards Best Novel nominee (2006) : Graceland
Edgar Awards Best Paperback original winner (2015) : The Secret History of Las Vegas


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