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The Fortune Men

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The Fortune Men

By: Nadifa Mohamed
Narrated by: Hugh Quarshie
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2021 and the Costa Novel Award 2021.

The story of a murder, a miscarriage of justice and a man too innocent for his times....

Mahmood Mattan is a fixture in Cardiff's Tiger Bay, 1952, which bustles with Somali and West Indian sailors, Maltese businessmen and Jewish families. He is a father, chancer, petty criminal. He is a smooth talker with rakish charm and an eye for a good game. He is many things, but he is not a murderer.

So when a shopkeeper is brutally killed and all eyes fall on him, Mahmood isn't too worried. Since his Welsh wife Laura kicked him out for racking up debts he has wandered the streets more often, and there are witnesses who allegedly saw him enter the shop that night. But Mahmood has escaped worse scrapes, and he is innocent in this country where justice is served. Love lends him immunity too: the fierce love of Laura, who forgives his gambling in a heartbeat, and his children. It is only in the run-up to the trial, as the prospect of returning home dwindles, that it will dawn on Mahmood that he is in a fight for his life - against conspiracy, prejudice and cruelty - and that the truth may not be enough to save him.

©2021 Nadifa Mohamed (P)2021 Penguin Audio Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction World Literature Heartfelt

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Critic reviews

"Chilling and utterly compelling, The Fortune Men shines an essential light on a much-neglected period of our national life." (Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland)

"A writer of great humanity and intelligence. Nadifa Mohamed deeply understands how lives are shaped both by the grand sweep of history and the intimate encounters of human beings." (Kamila Shamsie, author of Home Fire)

"A novel of tremendous power, compassion and subtlety, it feels unsettlingly timely." (Pankaj Mishra)
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Happy of and a sad story of injustice and a extremely broken Judith judiciary that’s represents what is happening today in our world and especially the British police and judiciary system. A man was convicted because he was poor and Of a race that was that familiar or understood by the white majority of his time. The story is a clear depiction of racism and ignorant. It shows of corrupt and racism of the British police and public as a whole, the lack of understanding and Refusal of trying to know the other culture or traditions of other races but instead subjecting them to blackmail and destruction of a person because he looks different to you. An innocent man convicted and killed for something he didn’t do just because of his race and because the people of his time did not believe or understand why he should stand tall among White people nor take one of theirs as his wife. It a clear demonstration of how hate and xenophobia can Destroy an entire family and society. What did Mudie is a total destruction of a whole family and children completely just because of his race?. The writing is excellent and enjoyable story solicitor I love it I’m going to recommend it to everyone, best story of this year. Thank to Nadifa Mohamed for bringing the story to light.

Excellent Writting

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Absolutely loved this book. Brilliantly performed and so vividly brought to life. Nadifa has created/built-upon the most nuanced, most detailed realising of a character that I have read in many years. Highly recommended.

Fantastic Novel

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Deserves to be heard by a everyone, but especially those who support capital execution.

A fabulous true story

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It took me quite a while to get into this story but I’m glad I continued. It’s terribly sad but it needs to be known and remembered.

This story needs to be remembered.

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People are annoyed by the Welsh accent, it is at least recognisable. It took me a while to figure out some words he was saying are actually Somali words. How can a narrator be chosen to read a book by a Somali author, about a man from Somalia and the book has many phrases in Somali language but the narrator does not bother to even Google and know that 'X' is actually pronounced as an 'H'??? I've stopped halfway and trying to push myself to finish it. If my life was less hectic I'd read the book, but audible is everything until that day I have time to sit with a book and finish it in decent amount of time. I found this a lazy choice that does not do the book justice, his voice is easy to listen to but we wouldn't have it if a narrator read French words and pronounced every single letter in a word, this is that bad.

Narrator butchers the key Somali phrases

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The story seems really good but the narration is truly terrible. The Welsh accents are the worst I've heard in an audio book, making this unlistenable. I've returned it and will buy the book to read instead.

I'm buying the book instead

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I was hoping this story would evoke Cardiff in years gone by, as I knew it well. The story is probably good ( I'll read the book) but the Audible version totally ruined it for me because every time a 'Welsh' person spoke the accent was so appalling it grated horribly. I began to brace myself for it & couldn't finish it.

Spoilt by a fake Welsh accent

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I picked this book because it was nominated for an award and I can completely see why. It is such a great story which really makes you think about what it would have been like to be a Somalian living in Britain in the mid 20th century. A story is always at its best when it allows you to comprehend life from someone else's perspective.

Such a great listen

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The beginning of the book was a bit confusing introducing many characters. As we get further into the story it becomes easier and has more of a flow. The narrator does a fantastic job with the characters though Jewish ladies are not his strong point. well done all.

Took some time to get into.

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Whilst I found the story based on a miscarriage of justice very absorbing using court transcripts etc...
The narration! well what to say!... the Somali and most! of the accents sounded pleasingly authentic... however given that the novel plotline is set in Wales and lots of the characters are Welsh..I am surprised that no narrator, who could master Welsh dialects for this required novel could not be found. The Welsh dialect was appalling and at times really did detract from the evolving story of this poor, doomed, loving father and husband Somali man.
A travesty of justice and so tragic for his wife and 3 sons also...

Excellent story...Read the book version!

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