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Historical Fiction· Ethiopia

The Shadow King

by Maaza Mengiste
Aggregate Editorial Score56/100
★Booker Prize
Published 2019English
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About This Book

Maaza Mengiste's The Shadow King (2019) stands as one of the most significant works of historical fiction of its era. The Shadow King is a powerful novel set during Italy's 1935 invasion of Ethiopia. Mengiste tells the story of the Ethiopian women who fought alongside men, focusing on the character of Hirut, a young servant turned soldier. The novel explores themes of war, memory, and female empowerment, and is celebrated for its lyrical prose and its reimagining of history from a female perspective. Themes of war, female empowerment, memory run through the work. The book has received recognition from Booker Prize Shortlist 2020.

Book Details

AuthorMaaza Mengiste
Published2019
Country of Origin🇪🇹 Ethiopia
LanguageEnglish
Category🗺️ Historical Fiction
ISBN9780393083569
Editorial Score56/100
About the Category

🗺️ Historical Fiction

Novels set in the past, blending real events with fictional narratives.

Explore all Historical Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

This book is part of Ethiopia's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Ethiopia →

Editorial Assessment

The Shadow King intricately weaves the narratives of women in the Ethiopian resistance against Italian colonialism, challenging the traditional roles of female warriors in a male-dominated history. Maaza Mengiste employs vivid imagery and rich, lyrical prose to explore themes of identity, power, and memory, illuminating the often-overlooked contributions of women in wartime. The novel not only reclaims a pivotal moment in history but also resonates with contemporary struggles for agency and recognition.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Booker Prize
shortlist · global
20200
✍️
About the Author
Maaza Mengiste
Ethiopia
View Author →

Maaza Mengiste is a Ethiopia author whose work in historical fiction has earned recognition from readers and critics alike.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Shadow King about?

The Shadow King is a powerful novel set during Italy's 1935 invasion of Ethiopia. Mengiste tells the story of the Ethiopian women who fought alongside men, focusing on the character of Hirut, a young servant turned soldier. The novel explores themes of war, memory, and female empowerment, and is celebrated for its lyrical prose and its reimagining of history from a female perspective.

Who wrote The Shadow King?

The Shadow King was written by Maaza Mengiste, from Ethiopia. First published in 2019.

What awards has The Shadow King won?

The Shadow King has received the following recognition: Booker Prize Shortlist 2020.

Is The Shadow King worth reading?

The Shadow King is a well-regarded book with an aggregate editorial score of 56/100 on 50 Best Books. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in war, female empowerment, memory.

Where can I buy The Shadow King?

You can buy The Shadow King on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Shadow King?

The Shadow King is classified as Historical Fiction. Novels set in the past, blending real events with fictional narratives.

What country is The Shadow King from?

The Shadow King originates from Ethiopia's literary tradition. Explore more books from Ethiopia on our country page.

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