Open Water
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson, published by Black Cat in 2021, is a poignant exploration of love and identity set against the backdrop of contemporary London. This edition spans 166 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows two young Black British artists—a photographer and a dancer—who navigate their burgeoning relationship while grappling with the complexities of belonging and the societal pressures that challenge their connection.
Readers will find a deeply intimate portrayal of romance intertwined with themes of race and vulnerability. As the protagonists confront external forces that threaten their bond, the story delves into the nuances of intimacy and the struggle for acceptance in a world that often marginalizes them. Open Water offers a rich tapestry of emotional experiences, reflecting on what it means to love and be loved while facing the realities of cultural heritage and personal identity.
Official synopsis Publisher
WINNER OF THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD
A NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION 5 UNDER 35
WINNER OF THE BRITISH BOOK AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION
“Open Water is tender poetry, a love song to Black art and thought, an exploration of intimacy and vulnerability between two young artists learning to be soft with each other in a world that hardens against Black people.”–Yaa Gyasi, author of Homegoing
In a crowded London pub, two young people meet. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists–he a photographer, she a dancer–and both are trying to make their mark in a world that by turns celebrates and rejects them. Tentatively, tenderly, they fall in love. But two people who seem destined to be together can still be torn apart by fear and violence, and over the course of a year they find their relationship tested by forces beyond their control.
Narrated with deep intimacy, Open Water is at once an achingly beautiful love story and a potent insight into race and masculinity that asks what it means to be a person in a world that sees you only as a Black body; to be vulnerable when you are only respected for strength; to find safety in love, only to lose it. With gorgeous, soulful intensity, and blistering emotional intelligence, Caleb Azumah Nelson gives a profoundly sensitive portrait of romantic love in all its feverish waves and comforting beauty.
This is one of the most essential debut novels of recent years, heralding the arrival of a stellar and prodigious young talent.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Open Water” about?
Who is the author of “Open Water”?
When was “Open Water” published?
What is the ISBN for “Open Water”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
