Ben Okri Knihy

Barvité příběhy ukazují realitu pro Evropana těžko pochopitelné současné Afriky. Nigerijský spisovatel Ben Okri žije trvale v Londýně. Česká čtenářská obec se mohla seznámit s jeho románem Hladová cesta (Volvox Globator 2000), za který dostal Booker Prize. Předkládaná knížka povídek nese název podle nejdelší a snad i formálně nejzávažnější povídky o chudém mladíkovi, absolventu střední školy, který se v Lagosu živí jako pouliční prodavač pochybných léků. Ben Okriho příběhy jsou inspirovány současnými politickými a ekonomickými poměry v Africe a nevyhýbají se ani takovým skutečnostem, jako jsou občanské a kmenové války, převraty, korupce, masová nezaměstnanost, násilí a neúcta k lidskému životu. V druhé vrstvě povídek Okri popisuje zážitky v jiných světech našeho vesmíru na základě jorubské mytologie. Autor sám o své tvorbě říká, že je realistická, ale jeho realismus má „mnoho dalších rozměrů“.

Azaro is a spirit child who is born only to live for a short while before returning to the idyllic world of his spirit companions. Now he has chosen to stay in the world of the living. This is his story.

Exploring themes of racism, intolerance, and environmental destruction, this epic poem by Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri reflects on the dualities of human progress and regret. It celebrates achievements in art, technology, and freedom while confronting the harsh realities of slavery and societal issues. Through a historical lens, Okri conveys a message of hope for the future, emphasizing our capacity to shape it. Originally published in 1999, this revised edition resonates powerfully with contemporary challenges, serving as an anthem for the twenty-first century.

An epic poem touching on issues of racism, intolerance and environmental destructions.

Two actors, a thousand characters, and the story of how a kingdom is changed... An epic new adaptation of the 4,000-year-old Egyptian poem about the Warrior King, Sinuhe written by Booker Prize-winner Ben Okri that captures the essence of humanity and the complexities of immigration. This edition of Changing Destiny is published to coincide with the world premiere performance at London's Young Vic Theatre, directed by Young Vic Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah. Ben Okri is a poet, novelist, essayist, short story writer, anthologist, aphorist, and playwright. He has also written film scripts. His works have won numerous national and international prizes, including the Booker Prize for Fiction. He has also received many honorary doctorates for his contribution to Literature, and his novel, Astonishing the Gods, was selected as one of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World' Recently, his Grenfell poem, on Channel Four's YouTube page, has received more than 6 million views.

In this environmental fairytale made for our times, a little girl must go alone into the forest to find a special flower to cure her sick mother. Written to be read by adults and children, from the Booker Prize-winning author of The Famished Road.

In the chaotic world of his African village, the spirit-child Azaro still watches the tumultous and tender lives of the Living; of his father who has been imprisoned for a crime he did not commit and of his mother who battles for justice. This final chapter in Azaro's adventures is a explosive and haunting climax to this masterful trilogy.

Topical and timely, Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri's new collection of short stories blur parallel realities and walk the line between darkness and magic. Is what you see all there is? Look again. Playful, frightening, even shocking – the stories in this collection blur the lines between illusion and reality. This is a writer at the height of his power, making the reader think, making them laugh, and sometimes making them want to look away while holding their gaze. Stories here are set in London, in Byzantium, in the ghetto, in the Andes, in a printer's shop in Spain. The characters include a murderer, a writer, a detective, a man in a cave, a man in a mirror, two little boys, a prison door, and the author himself. There are twenty-three stories in all. Each one will make you wonder if what you see in the world is all there is...

The book was first published in the UK in 1996 by Phoenix House, a part of Orion Books, and later saw a paperback reprint in 2014 by Head of Zeus, Ltd. This timeline highlights its enduring relevance and the continued interest in its content over the years.

A collection of eight short stories that touch on different aspects of life within Nigeria and in the World at large. Contents: Laughter beneath the bridge Converging city Disparities Incidents at the shrine Masquerades A hidden history Crooked prayer The dream-vendor's August