Writing is a form of resistance, particularly where cultures face erasure by oppressive forces. Throughout the history of Empire, there have been writers willing to speak out and offer their own truths to counter dominant narratives.
Skilled novelists can make experiences that seem distant to us feel close and real, breaking down barriers between ourselves and others and enabling us to see the world in a different light.
Kamila Shamsie’s A God In Every Stone transported us into the lived experiences of Empire, while Nitasha Kaul’s Residue explored the complexities of exile from a decolonising nation and the blending of different heritages and cultures.
Join Kamila and Natasha, in conversation with journalist, Boyd Tonkin, as they share the influences on their writing and discuss what it means to write about the legacies of an empire in a world where imperial pasts are increasingly viewed with nostalgia.