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Brave New Words
‘As long as we have literature as a bulwark against intolerance, and as a force for change, then we have a chance... Literature is plurality in action; it embraces and celebrates a place of no truths; it relishes ambiguity, and it deeply respects the place where everybody has the right to be understood.’—Caryl Phillips
Fifteen specially commissioned essays from distinguished authors explore the value of critical thinking, the power of the written word, and the resonance of literature in the twenty-first century.
Each explores the crucial place of the writer, past and present. Their work articulates ‘brave new words’ at the heart of battles against limitations on fundamental rights of citizenship, the closure of national borders, fake news, and an increasing reluctance to engage with critical democratic debate.
Contributors: Bernardine Evaristo, Githa Hariharan, Eva Hoffman, Romesh Gunesekera, James Kelman, Tabish Khair, Kei Miller, Blake Morrison, Mukoma wa Ngugi, Hsiao-Hung Pai, Olumide Popoola, Shivanee Ramlochan, Bina Shah, Raja Shehadeh and Marina Warner.
Published to celebrate 35 years of Wasafiri, the leading magazine of international literature, Brave New Words imagines writing across shifting and troubled borders, and diverse possibilities for living, working, and belonging together.
Fifteen specially commissioned essays from distinguished authors explore the value of critical thinking, the power of the written word, and the resonance of literature in the twenty-first century.
Each explores the crucial place of the writer, past and present. Their work articulates ‘brave new words’ at the heart of battles against limitations on fundamental rights of citizenship, the closure of national borders, fake news, and an increasing reluctance to engage with critical democratic debate.
Contributors: Bernardine Evaristo, Githa Hariharan, Eva Hoffman, Romesh Gunesekera, James Kelman, Tabish Khair, Kei Miller, Blake Morrison, Mukoma wa Ngugi, Hsiao-Hung Pai, Olumide Popoola, Shivanee Ramlochan, Bina Shah, Raja Shehadeh and Marina Warner.
Published to celebrate 35 years of Wasafiri, the leading magazine of international literature, Brave New Words imagines writing across shifting and troubled borders, and diverse possibilities for living, working, and belonging together.
- GenresNonfictionEssays
304 pages, Paperback
Published November 7, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 9, 2025
I admit having purchased this book solely for the essay written by Bernardine Evaristo, the novelist responsible for Girl, Woman, Other. This book blew me away when I read it due to the author’s novel use of punctuation, a fact I did not even notice until I was halfway through the novel. I fully expected that her essay might explore what it means for a writer to take such bold and adventurous steps in creating new fiction and I could not wait to learn of what advice she might have for young writers.
Brave New Words, published first in 2019, was intended to explore what it means to write across the boundaries of race, class, nationality, sexuality and gender. The women who have all contributed essays hail from various cultures all over the world and speak of how their experiences as a writer may have been influenced by some lesser known writers who may have come before. They also speak of how they might have been nurtured coming out of a historical period where it did not appear there would be much interest in marginalized voices.
My first thought in encountering these essays was that perhaps it would have been more ground breaking had it been published a decade earlier. My second thought was to reassess where we are today, in the US, with respect to welcoming diversity and inclusion of previously marginalized voices. As I see all around me a concerted effort to march backward into the bigotry I was so quick to assume we were transcending, I have a better understanding of why it is important to publish work like this.
To be clear I did not encounter much by way of how writers might gain the courage to adopt novel methods of storytelling. The authors in this book were more interested in celebrating their emerging existence in an otherwise hostile world - existence itself deemed as a suitably radical act. With all my privilege I was far too quick to assume that existence had already been established and it was time to move on to re-writing the rules of storytelling itself. No such luck. What was achieved can just as quickly be withdrawn, and no amount of wish casting is going to make it otherwise.
I took my time with this volume because instead of reading it in one sitting, I kept it by my bedside and would read it one essay at a time as I felt inspired. It may not have been the book I was hoping for, but this does not mean it did not have lessons to convey.
Brave New Words, published first in 2019, was intended to explore what it means to write across the boundaries of race, class, nationality, sexuality and gender. The women who have all contributed essays hail from various cultures all over the world and speak of how their experiences as a writer may have been influenced by some lesser known writers who may have come before. They also speak of how they might have been nurtured coming out of a historical period where it did not appear there would be much interest in marginalized voices.
My first thought in encountering these essays was that perhaps it would have been more ground breaking had it been published a decade earlier. My second thought was to reassess where we are today, in the US, with respect to welcoming diversity and inclusion of previously marginalized voices. As I see all around me a concerted effort to march backward into the bigotry I was so quick to assume we were transcending, I have a better understanding of why it is important to publish work like this.
To be clear I did not encounter much by way of how writers might gain the courage to adopt novel methods of storytelling. The authors in this book were more interested in celebrating their emerging existence in an otherwise hostile world - existence itself deemed as a suitably radical act. With all my privilege I was far too quick to assume that existence had already been established and it was time to move on to re-writing the rules of storytelling itself. No such luck. What was achieved can just as quickly be withdrawn, and no amount of wish casting is going to make it otherwise.
I took my time with this volume because instead of reading it in one sitting, I kept it by my bedside and would read it one essay at a time as I felt inspired. It may not have been the book I was hoping for, but this does not mean it did not have lessons to convey.
March 26, 2021
Some good essays on the impact of words and the place of the writer in today's changing world. The fifteen essays cover a wide range of viewpoints and styles. I think my favorite was the one at the end "Out Loud" by Marina Warner. The Dinner That Changed My Life" by Raja Shehadeh had an unexpected ending. Worth reading.
April 17, 2022
Wonderful selection of rich essays exploring the power of words, the need for words in crises and the humanity of words for global citizens.
A worthy tribute to a brave magazine by its exceptional contributors.
A worthy tribute to a brave magazine by its exceptional contributors.
May 31, 2022
Not every essay is a hit, but this collection still packs a powerful punch. It accomplishes its goal of showcasing how capable Wasafiri is of presenting readers with the absolute best and most innovative writing/thinking. Highlights are Bernadine Evaristo, Olumide Popoola, and Romesh Gunesekera.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews