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The Parlour Wife

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The Parlour Wife

By: Foluso Agbaje
Narrated by: Precious Mustapha
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About this listen

Kehinde must put everything on the line to find herself during a time of war.

Lagos, 1939

With the announcement of World War Two and a change that sends shockwaves through her family, Kehinde is forced to put aside her dreams of writing and become the third wife of Mr Ogunjobi.

Kehinde makes her peace by selling snacks at a small market. When she gets the chance to assist the leader of the Lagos Market Women's Association, fighting for the rights the British are trying to take away, Kehinde finally feels useful again.

But if her husband finds out he’ll abandon her.

Can Kehinde find the courage to fight for herself and the other women of Lagos? Or will she remain a caged bird, a parlour wife, forever.

A poignant story of a young Nigerian woman, living with the consequences of a war her country didn’t choose.

Praise for The Parlour Wife:

'1940's Nigeria as you've rarely seen it … Kehinde's journey to discovering her own voice, and ultimately her own autonomy, will resonate with many. A delightful debut!’

Chioma Okereke, author of Water Baby

'A delightful and evocative journey that starts in the heart of a young woman in Lagos whose destiny is threatened when the clouds of family and societal expectations, thesecond World War and the new wave of change sweeping West Africa make their impact on her life and choices'

Ola Awonubi, author of A Nurse’s Tale

'We all studied WW2, but Nigeria’s role, as a British colony, doesn’t feature in many books. Agbage corrects this in her poignant debut. I rooted for feisty Kehinde from the get-go. It’s not easy to be a feminist when you’re a third wife and destined for the parlour – her courage was wonderfully written'

Nikki May, author of Wahala and This Motherless Land

'Written in a warm, compassionate voice, Foluso Agbaje’s The Parlour Wife is a harmonious marriage of historical events and memorable characters'

Sefi Atta, author of The Bad Immigrant

©2024 Foluso Agbaje (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
African American Historical Historical Fiction Military World Literature Marriage Africa War

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All stars
Most relevant  
Like many of these stories, this book is an incredible tale of strength and perseverance in the face of unthinkable hardship. Excellent storytelling.

Incredible

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This fascinating story deserved to be heard by everyone who has any interest in the preferential treatment of boys in Nigeria, life in Lagos just before and during WW2 and the often overlooked sacrifice of so many men from the then British colonies.
Superb writing and excellent narration.

Fascinating Insight

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This book brought alive the time in which it was set, and I loved how compelling the central character’s story was.

Historical fiction set in colonial Lagos

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Absolutely loved this book, it was well written and it had a great storyline! Was surprised by how the character developed and matured as the story progressed.

The vivid descriptions made it easy to envisage what the author was writing about.

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The book that I read before this was long, intense and an emotional rollercoaster; so I welcomed the ease and familiarity of this story as someone who is familiar with Lagos. Hidden in the rut of chaos that is the Lagos of today are evidence of the Lagos that this story is set in- the colonial buildings, the streets, the food etc. Bar the colonial context, I wish I could say that the social dynamics are much different today for women- they are not. I feel that the story could have been drawn out a bit, with more character development and timelines being filled in, but in totality, I enjoyed it! That epilogue- can’t believe she didn’t tell him. The biggest letdown for me was the pronunciation of the Yoruba names and forced ‘Nigerian’ accent of the narrator. So distracting and not great- especially the names 🫣😭 However, stick with it, because it’s a good book and story! 🙂

Loved the glimpse of life in Nigeria during WW2

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I didn’t think I’d enjoy this as much as I did. I laughed and cried and felt with Kehinde. An amazing book.

Amazing !

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