WINNER OF THE 2021 BOOKER PRIZE
A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICE
A modern family saga written in gorgeous prose by three-time Booker
Prize-shortlisted author Damon Galgut.
Haunted by an unmet promise, the Swart family loses touch after the
death of their matriarch. Adrift, the lives of the three siblings move
separately through the uncharted waters of South Africa; Anton, the
golden boy who bitterly resents his life's unfulfilled potential;
Astrid, whose beauty is her power; and the youngest, Amor, whose life is
shaped by a nebulous feeling of guilt.
Reunited by four funerals over three decades, the dwindling family
reflects the atmosphere of its country--one of resentment, renewal, and,
ultimately, hope. The Promise is an epic drama that unfurls against
the unrelenting march of national history, sure to please current fans
and attract many new ones.
"Simply: you must read it."--Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine