Chasing Freedom

“A powerful memoir of postcolonial unease . . . [and] an elegant exploration of how political liberation does not always bring freedom for oneself. . . . [Chasing Freedom] asks what it means to stand up to the past without being trapped by it, and whether a different kind of freedom might still be possible.”— The Guardian

“Moving and highly readable . . . [Chigudu] skillfully fuse[s] his own story with the broader sweep of history. . . . The writing is a pleasure.”— Financial Times

“In Chasing Freedom, Simukai Chigudu seamlessly blends the history of African colonization and the jagged paths to independence with the story of his remarkable family. It is also the story of those for whom these massive global transformations were mere backdrops for growing up across continents, cultures, and agendas—of those children of African liberation now empowered to remake the world that colonialism made.”—Louis Chude-Sokei, author of Floating in a Most Peculiar Way

“A well-crafted blend of personal and political history.”— Kirkus Reviews

“A fascinating memoir, both intimate and epic, which will teach you more about the legacies of colonialism than a hundred op-eds, or a dozen textbooks.”—Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland

“Beautifully written . . . Great biographers need to be both lacerating and humane: Chigudu certainly has those qualities. To understand all is not necessarily to forgive all; it is simply, well, to understand. The even-handed empathy he displays throughout to all the players in his life’s story makes this a truly compelling read.”—The Spectator

“A deeply personal and moving exploration of the intersections of history, identity, and belonging . . . this book is a raw and unflinching account of the search for self amid the burdens of the past.”—Peter Godwin, author of When a Crocodile Eats the Sun

“In this remarkable memoir, Simukai Chigudu unravels the meanings—both world-historical and personal—of colonialism, history, and liberation. Chasing Freedom is a work of real power and beauty, as well as disarming truthfulness.”—Amia Srinivasan, author of The Right to Sex

“What does it mean to be truly free from the burdens of the past? Simukai Chigudu’s masterful and intimate memoir makes essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the ways in which the legacies of empire ricochet through the generations continuing to shape individual lives.”—Aminatta Forna, author of The Devil That Danced on the Water

“The voice of this memoir is utterly captivating, witty, and fiercely intelligent. Chasing Freedom is a finely observed, gripping account of growing up in Zimbabwe and building a life in Britain, told with such clarity and precision that I forgot I was reading.”—Dina Nayeri, author of The Ungrateful Refugee

“Simukai Chigudu’s Chasing Freedom is a raw and moving memoir—a complicated, engrossing, and, ultimately, brilliant portrait of a family navigating the minefields of the postcolonial world.”—Jonny Steinberg, author of Winnie and Nelson