Jonathan Ball Publishers recently won a fierce bidding battle for Sisonke Msimang’s memoir and first book, Always Another Country.

The book will be published in October 2017.

Msimang started writing Always Another Country in 2013 as political events in South Africa worsened in the aftermath of the Marikana massacre. The book covers her exile childhood in Zambia and Kenya, young adulthood and college years in North America, and return to South Africa in the euphoric 1990s.

Msimang is one of the most assured voices commenting on the South African present – often humorously; sometimes deeply movingly. Watch her TED Talk from October 2016, ‘If a story moves you, act on it’:

Stories are necessary, but they’re not as magical as they seem, says writer Sisonke Msimang. In this funny and thoughtful talk, Msimang questions our emphasis on storytelling and spotlights the decline of facts. During a critical time when listening has been confused for action, Msimang asks us to switch off our phones, step away from our screens and step out into the real world to create a plan for justice.

 

Categories Non-fiction South Africa

Tags Always Another Country Jonathan Ball Publishers Sisonke Msimang TED Talks