Author launches ‘romance with plots and subplots’

Karen Watkins|Published 9 months ago

Waiting to get their books signed, from left, Hannah Stevens, Lansana Konneh and Charline Chikomo, all from Rondebosch.

Rebecca Mort of Oranjezicht bought the book.

Maria Geustyn, left, came from Stellenbosch for the event. With her is Lireko Qhobela of Mowbray.

Grace Winkler of Bergvliet, left, with Jess Capstick-Dale of Plumstead.

Enjoying the event, Thabisa Nondzube from Milnerton with Sivuyile Giba of Salt River.

Michele Stevens of Bergvliet with Kudzai Mhangwa of Wynberg who is a poet and the author of Moments In The Private Room.

As part of the UCT Writers Series, Barbara Boswell was in conversation with Wisani Mushwana at the Book Lounge on Thursday July 4 to talk about her recently released second novel, The Comrade's Wife.

The Muizenberg author describes the novel as a romance with plots and subplots. Set locally between 2016 and 2018, The Comrade’s Wife follows a turbulent marriage between a rising politician and an academic. Boswell touches on themes of ascending class status, transformation, democracy as well as shocking insights from a heterosexual relationship and the lies and betrayals of love and party politics.

Boswell is a feminist literary scholar and Associate Professor of English at UCT. She is the author of Grace: A Novel (2017), which won the 2018 University of Johannesburg Debut Prize for Creative Writing.

Mushwana won the Book Lounge Author of the Year (2023) for his coming-of-age novel, A Soft Landing. He is a PhD candidate in English Literary Studies at UCT.

Wisani Mushwana in conversation with Barbara Boswell about her recently released second novel, The Comrade's Wife at The Book Lounge in Roeland Street.