Penguin Random House | Berlin, 02/15/2023

Audible: "Mr. Loverman" by Bernardine Evaristo

In today's Hörbar we present "Mr. Loverman" by Bernardine Evaristo. In her new novel, the Booker Prize winner uses dry humor to tell a story about old burdens and new beginnings, as well as the difficult interplay of interpersonal relationships and social demands, using the example of the Caribbean community in London. The audiobook version will be released tomorrow by Audio Verlag.

At what point is it perhaps too late for a new beginning? And what are the consequences of venturing into the unknown? These questions are at the heart of the novel "Mr. Loverman" by Bernardine Evaristo, the audio book version of which will be released tomorrow by Audio Verlag (DAV) as an unabridged reading with actor Walter Kreye. With a keen observational sense for social contexts, the Booker Prize winner takes on the big questions and tells the story of her main character Barry with dry humor and a lot of empathy.

Barrington Jedidiah Walker, born and raised in Antigua, loves his retro suits and always has the appropriate Shakespeare quote ready. With his wife Carmel, he leads a tranquil life in the London district of Hackney: two children, a house, retirement. But behind the perfect facade, Barry leads a double life. Since childhood he has loved his friend Morris, who also emigrated to England at that time. But fear of the truth and the reactions of those around him have paralyzed Barry for far too long. Now, in his mid-70s, he realizes that he would rather spend his last years with his true love. But a lot of time has passed for Morris, too - and now he's supposed to get his hopes up that Barry will leave his wife after all? If Barry still wants to change his life, he's going to have to put his foot down.

"If you don't know Evaristo's books yet, you should definitely change that - she writes about modern Great Britain like no other", praises the daily newspaper "The Guardian". "The Spectator" says: "The spectre of homosexuality has a long tradition in the West Indies - Bernardine Evaristo addresses every aspect of it. A tender, forward-looking novel." The Independent writes: "A profound, humorous and, above all, touching novel. Evaristo tells us about lifeworlds we think we know, and cleans up our preconceptions." And the German culture magazine "ttt" concludes: "Evaristo tells us with a precise, even merciless eye, pointedly and ironically about things that have been in the shadows for too long and still are today."

Bernardine Evaristo is professor of creative writing at Brunel University in London. For her novel "Girl, Woman, etc.," also published as an audiobook by DAV, she became the first black writer to win the Booker Prize in 2019. The British-Nigerian author explores the themes of identity, feminism and racism in her works. Among other things, she founded the first theater group for black women in the UK.