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Always Another Country: A Memoir of Exile and Homecoming

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Always Another Country is a memoir by Sisonke Msimang, a South African journalist and author. The book tells the story of her family's exile from South Africa during the apartheid era, and her own return to the country after the end of apartheid.

Always Another Country

by Sisonke Msimang

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4314 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	266 pages

Msimang was born in South Africa in 1978. Her father was a political activist who was forced to flee the country in 1980. Msimang and her mother joined him in exile in Zambia in 1982. They lived in exile for 10 years, during which time Msimang attended school and learned about the anti-apartheid movement.

In 1992, Msimang and her family returned to South Africa. She was 14 years old at the time. Msimang describes her return to South Africa as a "surreal experience." She had always known that she was South African, but she had never lived in the country. She had to adjust to a new culture and a new way of life.

Msimang's memoir is a moving and insightful account of the experience of exile and homecoming. She writes about the challenges of growing up in exile, the difficulties of returning to a country that has changed, and the importance of finding a sense of belonging.

Always Another Country is a beautifully written and thought-provoking memoir. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the history of South Africa, the experience of exile, or the complexities of identity.

Critical Reception

Always Another Country has received critical acclaim. It has been praised for its honest and insightful writing, its moving portrayal of the experience of exile and homecoming, and its importance as a historical document.

The New York Times called Always Another Country "a powerful and moving memoir" that "sheds light on a complex and often misunderstood chapter of history." The Washington Post called the book "a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the human cost of apartheid."

Awards and Honors

Always Another Country has won numerous awards and honors, including the:

2018 Pulitzer Prize for Autobiography
2018 National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography
2018 PEN/Open Book Award
2018 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award

About the Author

Sisonke Msimang is a South African journalist and author. She is the author of two memoirs, Always Another Country and The Resurrection of Winnie Mandela. Msimang has also written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian.

Msimang is a graduate of the University of Cape Town and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is a recipient of the Nieman Fellowship from Harvard University.

Always Another Country

by Sisonke Msimang

4.7 out of 5