Shifting Colours
Shifting Colours by Fiona Sussman is a poignant exploration of identity and separation, published by Allison & Busby in 2014. This UK edition spans 303 pages and is presented in English. The narrative centers on Celia Mphephu, a maid in 1960s Johannesburg, whose life takes a dramatic turn when her employers, the Steiners, offer to adopt her daughter Miriam as they prepare to leave South Africa. As racial tensions escalate, the story unfolds against the backdrop of apartheid, highlighting the complexities of familial bonds and cultural dislocation.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of experiences as Miriam navigates her new life in England, which starkly contrasts with her mother’s memories of home. The novel delves into themes of memory, belonging, and the search for self amidst societal upheaval. Shifting Colours intricately weaves the lives of a mother and daughter, separated by distance and circumstance, as they embark on a journey of reconnection and understanding. This narrative invites reflection on the impact of history on personal lives, making it a significant addition to the genre of fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
‘This is the sweet memory of Mme, my dear mother. The first sweet memory …Sometimes her laughter bursts into my head or I hear her call me – my name full and round in her mouth. Frustratingly though, as with all the memories I have of Mme, her face always blurs under the pressure of my focus.’Celia Mphephu works as a maid for Mr and Mrs Steiner in a leafy, white man’s suburb of 1960s Johannesburg. When racial tensions in the country reach fever pitch and the Steiners plan to relocate to England, they offer to adopt Celia’s young daughter Miriam and raise her as their own. But Miriam finds England to be very different to the place the Steiners have told her about. And so begins her long journey through the years, back to South Africa, to find her mother and herself. Set against the violent backdrop of apartheid South Africa and then the calm of late twentieth century Britain, Shifting Colours traces the lives of a mother and daughter separated by land, sea and heart-rending circumstance.
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