Longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2010.
The Desmond Elliott Prize is an annual award for a first novel written
in English and published in the UK. Worth £10,000 to the winner, the
prize is named after the literary agent and publisher, Desmond Elliott.
Click here to find out more.
A compelling story looking in to the centre of the Nigerian judicial and prison system. Great characters and insight in to the real workings of the country make this an unputdownable book of discovery. Fascinating and entertaining in equal measures.
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
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Closing date: 04/07/2026
Torn from his father and a loving sister, the young student Zuba is imprisoned for a crime he has not even thought about committing. His misfortune: to live in a world where corruption is rife and honest and law-abiding people are crushed by the wheels of a blind, unscrupulous bureaucracy. What seems at first to be an irksome judiciary misunderstanding gradually becomes a journey through the hell of Nigerian prisons. Only by showing the utmost daring and integrity will Zuba be able to regain his freedom.
The Shadow of a Smile features in the following genres: Modern and Contemporary Fiction, eBooks of the Month, General Fiction, Fiction, Recommendations
The Shadow of a Smile is available in Paperback
The Shadow of a Smile was written by Kachi A. Ozumba and published by Alma Books Ltd
