The Promise

WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 2021

One family. One promise. One chance to tell a new story.

‘A moving, brilliantly told family epic’ Elizabeth Day

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

On a farm outside Pretoria, the Swarts are gathering for Ma’s funeral. The younger generation, Anton and Amor, detest everything the family stand for – not least their treatment of the Black woman who has worked for them her whole life. Salome was to be given her own house, her own land…yet somehow, that vow is carefully ignored.

As each decade passes, and the family assemble again, one question hovers over them. Can you ever escape the repercussions of a broken promise?

‘A tour de force… A spectacular demonstration of how the novel can make us see and think afresh’ Booker Judges, 2021

‘Astonishing’ Colm Tóibìn

‘Utterly compelling’ Patrick Gale