Harry Sylvester Bird
Harry Sylvester Bird by Chinelo Okparanta, published by HarperCollins Publishers on June 6, 2023, is a satirical novel that explores the complexities of identity and societal issues in contemporary America. This 320-page work follows Harry Sylvester Bird, a young man from Edward, Pennsylvania, who grapples with his upbringing in a family he finds deeply flawed. As he navigates the challenges of his small-town environment, marked by racism and xenophobia, Harry yearns for a life that reflects his true self.
In New York City, Harry encounters new experiences and relationships, particularly with Maryam, a young Nigerian woman. Their relationship prompts Harry to confront his identity and the societal pressures that have shaped him. The narrative delves into themes of race, love, and self-discovery, presenting a humorous yet unflinching look at the tensions of modern life. This edition is presented in English and offers readers a thought-provoking exploration of coming-of-age in a complex world.
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“Disarmingly funny.” – The New York Times
From the award-winning author of Under the Udala Trees and Happiness, Like Water comes a brilliant, provocative, up-to-the-minute satirical novel about a young white man’s education and miseducation in contemporary America.
Harry Sylvester Bird grows up in Edward, Pennsylvania, with his parents, Wayne and Chevy, whom he greatly dislikes. They’re racist, xenophobic, financially incompetent, and they have quite a few secrets of their own. To Harry, they represent everything wrong with this country. And his small town isn’t any better. He witnesses racial profiling, graffitied swastikas, and White Power signs on his walk home from school. He can’t wait until he’s old enough to leave. When he finally is, he moves straight to New York City, where he feels he can finally live out his true inner self.
In the city, he meets and falls in love with Maryam, a young Nigerian woman. But when Maryam begins to pull away, Harry is forced to confront his identity as he never has before–if he can.
Brilliant, funny, original, and unflinching, Harry Sylvester Bird is a satire that speaks to all the most pressing tensions and anxieties of our time–and of the history that has shaped us and might continue to do so.
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