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A History of Burning

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A History of Burning

By: Janika Oza
Narrated by: Lipica Shah, KP Upadhyayula
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

An immersive, kaleidoscopic debut for fans of Homegoing and Pachinko: one family's search for a better life through four continents, four generations and a century of change

At the turn of the twentieth century Pirbhai, a teenage boy, is taken from his village in India and travels perilously across the sea to labour on the East African railroad for the British. There, he is given a ruthless order. Following it will ensure his survival. But it will also torment him and reverberate across his family's future for decades to come.

During the waning days of British colonial rule, and as Uganda moves towards independence and military dictatorship, Pirbhai's children and grandchildren come of age in a divided nation. In 1972, when Idi Amin's brutal regime expels the Ugandan Asians, the family has no choice but to flee. In the chaos, they leave something devastating and unexpected behind.

As Pirbhai's grandchildren find their way back to each other in exile in Toronto, a letter arrives that will stoke the flames of the fire that haunts the family. It makes each generation question how far they are willing to go, and who they are willing to defy, in order to secure their own place in the world.

A History of Burning is an unforgettable tour de force, an intimate family saga of complicity and resistance, about the stories we share, what remains unspoken and the eternal search for home.

©2023 Janika Oza (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Family Life Fiction Historical Fiction Political World Literature Emotionally Gripping
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Critic reviews

A riveting testament to home, exile, survival, and inheritance (Lisa Ko, author of THE LEAVERS)
As transfixing as a flame (Rachel Khong, author of GOODBYE, VITAMIN)

What listeners say about A History of Burning

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent, moving narrative

The story is very well written, with excellent characterisation and descriptions.
However, the quality of the reading is patchy.
The person narrating the story from Huri's point of view is not skilful in reading the narrative with the appropriate emotional resonance; also, often his sentences are incorrectly phrased, which is frustrating.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating Read

Loved listening to the history of Burning. Quite captivating and full of courage in the face of every adversity.

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Gripping story of a Ugandan family

Fascinating insight into how one family’s life is disrupted by political upheaval, throwing them from a comfortable situation into refugees. Beautifully written and narrated. I felt like starting it again as soon as I finished it.

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