The Furrows is a novel by Namwali Serpell that explores the themes of grief, loss, and identity. The novel follows Cee, a biracial girl who witnesses the death of her younger brother, Wayne, when she is 12 years old. Wayne’s body is never recovered, and Cee’s mother refuses to accept his death. Cee grows up seeing her brother everywhere, in different versions of himself. She also meets a man named Wayne, who is searching for his own place in the world. The novel plays with the concept of time and parallel universes, as Cee tries to cope with her trauma and find a connection with her lost brother.
The Furrows is a dark, inventive, and provocative novel that challenges the reader’s perception of reality and memory. It is a story of how grief can shape one’s identity and destiny, and how the past can haunt the present in unexpected ways. The novel has received positive reviews from critics and readers alike, who praised Serpell’s skillful writing and imaginative vision
About The Author
NAMWALI SERPELL is a Zambian writer who teaches at UC Berkeley. She received a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award in 2011 and was selected for the Africa 39 in 2014. She won the 2015 Caine Prize for African Writing.
THE OLD DRIFT is her first novel. The chapter entitled “The Falls” is derived from The Autobiography of An Old Drifter, by the historical figure, Percy M. Clark (1874-1937).
