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Cover of The Shadow King
Historical Fiction· Ethiopia

The Shadow King

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

The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste is a landmark work of historical fiction, first published in 2019. 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 →

Awards & Recognition

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