'A writer of startling talent ... Conveying the human spirit's irrepressible love of life is the triumph of this magical book' Daily Telegraph 'A fascinating evocation of the experience of African women, and all that has been gained - and lost - with the passing of old traditions' Marie Claire 'She tells stories as she breathes ... a prose of soaring beauty' The Times 'Mesmeric, elegant prose ... equally extraordinary and vibrant with sadness and joy' Daily Mail

Aminatta Forna is an author, broadcaster and journalist. Her last book, The Devil that Danced on the Water, was runner-up for the Samuel Johnson Prize 2003. Formerly a television reporter, Aminatta has presented and produced numerous television programmes for the BBC including the arts and culture magazine programme The Late Show and the BBC political flagship On the Record. She has won several awards for her television work, and in 1996 directed and presented a documentary on Africa's art, 'Through African Eyes', a PBS/BBC co-production, which today is shown to students of African art and culture in universities across the USA. Aminatta has hosted radio series including An Essential Guide to the 21st Century (World Service), The Travellers Souk and In Living Colour (BBC Radio 4). She is a contributor to several newspapers including the Independent, the Observer, the Sunday Times and the Evening Standard. She has acted as a judge for the Macmillan African Writer's Prize in 2003, the Samuel Johnson Prize in 2004 and the Caine Prize for Africa 2005.