| Glory | |
| Author: | NoViolet Bulawayo |
| Country: | Zimbabwe |
| Language: | English |
| Genre: | Literary fiction, Political satire |
| Set In: | Jidada (fictionalised version of Zimbabwe) |
| Publisher: |
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| Pub Date: | 8 March 2022[1] |
| Pages: | 416 |
| Isbn: | 978-0-52-556113-2 |
| Preceded By: | We Need New Names |
Glory is the second novel of Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo. Published on 8 March 2022, Glory is a political satire inspired by George Orwell's novel Animal Farm. It was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, which was announced on 6 September 2022.
The novel was inspired by Animal Farm by George Orwell.[2] According to Bulawayo, she intended to write about the 2017 coup against Robert Mugabe as a nonfiction; instead, she settled for political satire.[3]
"Glory" is a novel that tells the story of a fictional country's journey towards liberation after the downfall of Old Horse, its longtime dictator. Inspired by the real-life coup that ended Robert Mugabe's nearly four-decade rule in Zimbabwe in 2017, the book is a vibrant and imaginative take on a nation in transition, as told by a group of animals. These animal characters reveal the dark tactics used to maintain power and the hopeful, unyielding spirit needed to dismantle it. It delves into the fabric of a wounded nation, showing the resilience and humor that persist even in dark times. At the heart of the chaos is Destiny, who returns from exile to witness the upheaval and to document the overlooked history and influence of the women who have been the true power brokers.
Using the animal kingdom as both a metaphor and a lens through which we can examine our basic instincts, "Glory" uses mythology and storytelling traditions from around the world to underscore the absurdity of modern politics. This allows readers to see our reality more clearly, even as the author transports us into a fantastically different world. The book is an epic tale, full of excitement, that captures a pivotal moment in history with all the detail and subtlety that only the best fiction can provide.
While shortlisting Glory for the 2022 Booker Prize, the jury said, "A fictional country of animals ruled by a tyrannical and absolute power is on the verge of liberation. The fiction becomes almost reality as we picture the parallel between this Animal Farm, Zimbabwe, and the fate of many African nations. An ingenious and brilliant political fable that bears witness to the surreal turns of history."[4] [5]
Sarah Ladipo Manyika, writing for The Guardian, said Glory was in good company with Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth by Wole Soyinka, and also observed: "Bulawayo doesn't hold back in speaking truth to power. She writes urgently and courageously, holding up a mirror both to contemporary Zimbabwe and the world at large. Her fearless and innovative chronicling of politically repressive times calls to mind other great storytellers such as Herta Müller, Elif Shafak and Zimbabwean compatriot Yvonne Vera. Glory, with a flicker of hope at its end, is allegory, satire and fairytale rolled into one mighty punch."[3]
Glory was described by The Conversation as "unforgettable" and "an instant Zimbabwean classic".[6] The New York Times stated: "The scope and complexity of the historical material Bulawayo takes on in her tale are ambitious, and she pulls it off."
Reviewing the novel for The Scotsman, Stuart Kelly wrote: "It is too neat to refer to this as a kind of Zimbabwean Animal Farm. ... If there were one book I would compare it to it would be Ngugi wa Thiong'o's Wizard of the Crow, an equally acerbic, precise, heart-rending and hilarious analysis of tyranny."[7]
Ainehi Edoro comments very favourably in Brittle Paper on the novel's use of language – "Bulawayo's writing is a performance. Colorful, poetic, comedic. Like a masquerade, her writing dances in a blend of contrasts." – and also cautions that "before we start calling Glory African Animal Farm, I want to remind folks that Orwell did not invent the fable as a form of political critique. African literature has a rich tradition of animal stories."[8]
The Financial Times reviewer wrote: "Glory is a memorable, funny and yet serious allegory about a country's plight under tyranny and what individual and collective freedom means in an age of virtual worlds and political soundbites."[9]