Abdulrazak Gurnah reads from 'By the Sea'

Abdulrazak Gurnah, 2021 Nobel Prize laureate in literature, reads an excerpt from his book 'By the Sea'. He was filmed in his home in Kent, England in December 2021.
You can read this excerpt and another from 'The Last Gift' at www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lit...

[@sarveshkulkarni7526]

Can't beleive he started with maps! Such a wonderful skill to start from simple thing to a great philosophical meaning.

[@ibrahimhassanel-erian2044]

He is really deserving the Noble Price.

[@karenmiller8090]

Thank you so much for this! First time hearing of this author or his work. Just beautiful!

[@ingridyau3012]

This excerpt reminds me of my visit to Macau, a former Portuguese colony. Portugal is next to Spain, where Christopher Columbus set sail, and was in fact one of the first colonisers. Even Columbus sought Portuguese support in the first place, but was rejected due to his inaccuracy in geographical planning (which was proven to be true).
1. I recall seeing maps of Macau in the office of a high-ranking official of the colonial government in Casas - Museu da Taipa. I saw them as a symbol of supervising power over the territory.
2. I came across a statue of Luis Vaz de Camus, author of Lusiadas, an epic illustrating the voyage of Portuguese colonisers in the Far East. I can still recall how William C. Atkinson described this poem in its introduction, "The poem lives, and deserves to live, if only as a magnificent narrative of one of the most impressive chapters in the record of human endeavour." Him as a Briton of course can feel that exaltation as a colonising nation, but this quote leads me to think: Is the adventurous spirit a fruit that can only be harvested by colonisers, but not the indigenous people, due to power hierarchy? Can curiosity and courage be shared by mankind even if there is oppression in place? Is it morally unjust for us, as descendants of the indigenous, to appreciate the beauty of imperialism while remembering our ancestors' suffering under colonial ruling?

[@natiecon137]

what an amazing writer and reader! shame that I haven't heard of him before the prize.

[@VideographerExperience]

I love the style, accessible.
Enchanting voice, I'm drawn in.

[@solomonmwaigwisya5904]

Well done sir....Greetings from Tanzania

[@Mahmoudu5527]

What great speach and spirit

[@Booksandstrawberries]

Can't wait to read this book.

[@jamilurrahman-og3ug]

His creativity combined with his emotions....one can really feel his words..

[@Abdussalam-ni1kn]

Love from Bihar India

[@ivainyamutsamba8540]

Gorgeous introduction to an enchanting body of work

[@hrhrae1959]

I have to read your book aloud. Even if I am reading to myself. But being human with all my failings I might just take the thought for the deed. 😊

[@ruchpat1]

Thank you Nobel Prize for posting this video.

[@msaditu]

So beautiful! I must read this book.

[@snehasaha6082]

Love from India 🇮🇳

[@kasamearth1]

Beautiful is your poem.

[@JahanaraBegum-nh1vc]

My pleasure to hear from you.

[@Eli-cq8jq]

Ecstatic!👏

[@ejazhussain8739]

Incredible!!

[@juancarlosvasquezgarcia6134]

Nice excerpt!

[@CoolGirl007]

Thanks Sir, I would like to have a book of you 😊 🙏

[@rialhasibuan7834]

Amazing

[@SA-xv3kv]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@radhakrishna1845]

🙏💕....

[@madhavanpallan]

+1