Rose and the Burma Sky

Rose and the Burma Sky

The heartrending unrequited love story of a black soldier in the Second World War

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

For fans of Yaa Gyasi, Esi Edugyan and James Baldwin - gripping and intimate historical novel of a black soldier's experience in the Second World War - a rare, moving and authentic tale of love and sacrifice by the acclaimed British-Nigerian author of THE BOOK OF ECHOES.


ONE WAR, ONE SOLDIER, ONE LOVE

1939: In a village in south-east Nigeria at the brink of world, young Obi watches from a mango tree as a colonial army jeep whooshes by, filled with soldiers laughing and shouting, their buttons shining in the sun. To Obi, their promise of a smart uniform and regular wages are hard to resist, especially as he has his sweetheart Rose to impress and a family to support.

Years later, when Rose falls pregnant to another man, his young heart is shattered. As the Burma Campaign mounts, and Obi is shipped out to fight, he is haunted by the mystery of Rose's lover. When his identity comes to light, Obi's devastation leads to a tragic - and wholly unforeseeable - chain of events.

In ROSE AND THE BURMA SKY, Rosana Amaka weaves the horrors of war, the pain of unrequited love and the possibility that following your heart might not always be the best course of action. Its gritty boy's-eye view brings a spare and impassioned intensity, charging it with universal resonance and power.

© Rosanna Amaka 2023 (P) Penguin Audio 2023

Reviews

  • Part love story, party mystery. Superb
    GLAMOUR, Best Books for February

About the author

Rosanna Amaka

Rosanna Amaka was born in the UK and is of African and Caribbean heritage. Her debut novel, The Book of Echoes, was shortlisted for the Authors' Club First Novel Award, the RSL Christopher Bland Prize and the HWA Debut Crown Award. Rose and the Burma Sky is her second novel and was inspired by a conversation with her grandmother while they were watching a war film in which all the soldiers were white. Rosanna lives in London. Meet her on Twitter @RosannaAmaka
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