Tales of the Metric System. Imraan Coovadia

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Название Tales of the Metric System
Автор произведения Imraan Coovadia
Жанр Контркультура
Серия Modern African Writing
Издательство Контркультура
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9780821445648



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      TALES OF THE METRIC SYSTEM

      MODERN

       African Writing

      from Ohio University Press

      Ghirmai Negash, General Editor Laura Murphy, Series Editor

      This series brings the best African writing to an international audience. These groundbreaking novels, memoirs, and other literary works showcase the most talented writers of the African continent. The series also features works of significant historical and literary value translated into English for the first time. Moderately priced, the books chosen for the series are well crafted, original, and ideally suited for African studies classes, world literature classes, or any reader looking for compelling voices of diverse African perspectives.

      Books in the series are published with support from the Ohio University National Resource Center for African Studies.

       Welcome to Our Hillbrow A Novel of Postapartheid South Africa

      Phaswane Mpe

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-1962-5

       Dog Eat Dog: A Novel

      Niq Mhlongo

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-1994-6

       After Tears: A Novel

      Niq Mhlongo

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-1984-7

       From Sleep Unbound

      Andrée Chedid

      ISBN: 978-0-8040-0837-2

       On Black Sisters Street: A Novel

      Chika Unigwe

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-1992-2

       Paper Sons and Daughters Growing Up Chinese in South Africa

      Ufrieda Ho

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-2020-1

       The Conscript A Novel of Libya’s Anticolonial War

      Gebreyesus Hailu

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-2023-2

       Thirteen Cents: A Novel

      K. Sello Duiker

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-2036-2

       Sacred River: A Novel

      Syl Cheney-Coker

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-2056-0 (hardcover)

      978-0-8214-2137-6 (paperback)

       491 Days: Prisoner Number 1323/69

      Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-2102-4 (hardcover)

      978-0-8214-2101-7 (paperback)

       The Hairdresser of Harare

      Tendai Huchu

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-2162-8 (hardcover)

      978-0-8214-2163-5 (paperback)

       Mrs. Shaw: A Novel

      Mukoma Wa Ngugi

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-2143-7

       The Maestro, the Magistrate & the Mathematician

      Tendai Huchu

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-2205-2 (hardcover)

      978-0-8214-2206-9 (paperback)

       Tales of the Metric System

      Imraan Coovadia

      ISBN: 978-0-8214-2225-0

      978-0-8214-2226-7

       TALES OF THE METRIC SYSTEM

      A NOVEL

      IMRAAN COOVADIA

      OHIO UNIVERSITY PRESS

      ATHENS

      Tales of the Metric System © 2014 Imraan Coovadia By Agreement with Pontas Literary & Film Agency

      Published in the United States by Ohio University Press, Athens, Ohio 45701 ohioswallow.com

      All rights reserved To obtain permission to quote, reprint, or otherwise reproduce or distribute material from Ohio University Press publications, please contact our rights and permissions department at (740) 593-1154 or (740) 593-4536 (fax).

      Printed in the United States of America

      Ohio University Press books are printed on acid-free paper

      First published in 2014 by Umuzi an imprint of Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd Company Reg No 1966/003153/07 Estuaries No 4, Oxbow Crescent, Century Avenue, Century City, 7441, South Africa PO Box 1144, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa [email protected]www.randomstruik.co.za

      Cover design and illustrations by Joey Hi-Fi

      Author photograph by Victor Dlamini

      26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 5 4 3 2 1

      ISBNS:

      978-0-8214-2225-0 (hardcover)

      978-0-8214-2226-7 (paperback)

      978-0-8214-4564-8 (electronic)

      ‘I set forth how I viewed the history of my people in the light of God’s Word. I began by addressing my hearers: “People of the Lord, you old people of the country, you foreigners, you newcomers, yes, even you thieves and murderers!”’

      –Paul Kruger, Memoirs

       CONTENTS

       1970: School Time

       1973: The Pass

       1979: Boxing Day

       1985: Soviet Embassy

       1990: The Necklace

       1995: King Midas

       1999: Truth and Reconciliation

       2003: Sparks

       2010: Vuvuzela

       1976: The Pool

       Acknowledgements

       1970 SCHOOL TIME

      The Jaguar wouldn’t start. Ann sat behind the leather steering wheel and watched the ruby-red light fade in the dashboard. Neil’s late mother had donated the car to them at a time when