The literary debut novel longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 - 'Beautiful', R. F. Kuang

LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

'A mighty achievement' OCEAN VUONG

'Beautiful, brilliant' R. F. KUANG

'Dazzling' OBSERVER

'Will shatter your heart' GLAMOUR

An extraordinary, original and heartbreaking debut novel about the bonds that connect people even when separated by borders or death itself, from a thrilling new voice. There are the goodbyes and then the fishing out of the bodies - everything in between is speculation. One night, not long after the last American troops leave Vietnam, siblings Anh, Thanh and Minh flee their village and embark on a perilous boat journey to Hong Kong. Their parents and four younger siblings make the crossing in another vessel but as weeks go by it becomes clear that only one party has survived the voyage. Anh, Thanh and Minh suddenly find themselves alone in the world, without family or home. They travel on, navigating refugee camps and resettlement centres until, by a twist of fate, they arrive in Thatcher''s Britain. Here they must somehow build new lives with only each other to turn to, but will that be enough in a place that doesn''t seem to want them? In this piercing debut, the siblings'' faltering journey is deftly interwoven with the voice of their lost younger brother, Dao, following them from a place between the living and the dead, and the records of an unknown researcher intent on gathering together the strands of their story. Revelatory and inventive, Wandering Souls paints a heart-wrenching portrait of a family in unimaginable adversity while exploring the power of stories to heal generational wounds. It heralds the arrival of an essential new voice in fiction.

Autorentext

Cecile Pin is a London-based writer. Her debut novel Wandering Souls was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Prix Femina Etranger, and shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize. She has won the Fragonard Prize for Foreign Literature, a Somerset Maugham Award, and a London Writers' Award. In 2025, she was selected as one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe.

Klappentext

LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

'A mighty achievement'OCEAN VUONG

'Beautiful, brilliant'R. F. KUANG

'Dazzling'*OBSERVER*

'Will shatter your heart'*GLAMOUR*

'Powerful'*SUNDAY TIMES*

An extraordinary story of the journey of one young family through love, loss and unwavering hope.

There are the goodbyes and then the fishing out of the bodies - everything in between is speculation.

One night, not long after the last American troops leave Vietnam, siblings Anh, Thanh and Minh flee their village and embark on a perilous journey in hope of a new life. Separated from their parents and fearing the worst they find themselves travelling alone in the world without a home to return to. After a twist of fate lands them in Thatcher's Britain, they must somehow build new lives there. Will the love they have for each other be enough to keep them together?

Wandering Souls is a stunning, life-affirming testament to the healing power of stories.

A Time and Guardian book of the year

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2023

'Poignant and lyrical'DAVID NICHOLLS

'A powerful story of courage, love and unwavering hope'*MARIE CLAIRE*

'Beautiful... I loved every word' PHILIPPA PERRY

'A deeply affecting reckoning with history'*i-D*

'Tells one of the most important stories of our times'LUCY CALDWELL

'Special ... Reading it is like watching a writer at work'*NEW YORK TIMES*

Zusammenfassung
LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION'A mighty achievement' OCEAN VUONG'Beautiful, brilliant' R. F. KUANG'Dazzling' OBSERVER'Will shatter your heart' GLAMOUR