BOOK OF SECRETS

PIUS FERNANDES, A RETIRED SCHOOLTEACHER LIVING IN MODERN - DAY DAR ES SALAAM, DISCOVERS AN OLD DIARY IN THE BACK ROOM OF AN EAST AFRICAN SHOP. DATING FROM 1913, IT IS A PROVOCATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE ASIAN COMMUNITY OF EAST AFRICA BY A BRITISH COLONIAL ADMINISTRATOR. THE DIARY INFLAMES FERNANDES' CURIOSITY - ITS CODED REFERENCES TO THE FORBIDDEN LIAISONS, FAMILY SECRETS AND SIMMERING VENGEANCES OF BOTH ITS AUTHOR AND THOSE AROUND HIM LEAD FERNANDES TO GRADUALLY CONNECT THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT. PART GENERATIONAL HISTORY, PART DETECTIVE STORY AND PART SOCIAL CHRONICLE, VASSANJI'S NOVEL MAGNIFICENTLY CONJURES BOTH SETTING AND PERIOD AS IT EXPLORES THE NOTIONS OF IDENTITY AND EXILE.