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Rebel English Academy
From the brilliant Booker-longlisted Mohammed Hanif comes a lively, rich novel about the power of language, friendship, and protest in the face of political turmoil
When a major Pakistani political figure is hanged, OK Town erupts in protest.
A few miles away, Sir Baghi is surprised by a knock at the door of the Rebel English Academy, his tuition center that offers affordable English lessons. An unexpected visitor, Sabiha, seeks refuge at the Academy – but she has a gun, her parents are political prisoners, her husband has just died in a suspicious fire, and she’s clearly hiding something. Baghi encourages Sabiha to write, and throughout the book her life unspools on the page.
Meanwhile Captain Gul, disgraced intelligence officer, has been banished to OK Town, where he aims to silence protesters by any means necessary. But his duties – and romantic desires – begin to overlap, and his already-dubious power is further threatened.
In Rebel English Academy, Pakistan is coming into modernity, struggling under martial law after the execution of its former leader. Mohammed Hanif has constructed a vibrant cast of interconnected characters that face this changing landscape with violence, passion, and the occasional sharp humor. Wry, searing, and deeply relevant, Rebel English Academy is a triumphant new novel about political power, religion, education, sexuality, and dissent.
When a major Pakistani political figure is hanged, OK Town erupts in protest.
A few miles away, Sir Baghi is surprised by a knock at the door of the Rebel English Academy, his tuition center that offers affordable English lessons. An unexpected visitor, Sabiha, seeks refuge at the Academy – but she has a gun, her parents are political prisoners, her husband has just died in a suspicious fire, and she’s clearly hiding something. Baghi encourages Sabiha to write, and throughout the book her life unspools on the page.
Meanwhile Captain Gul, disgraced intelligence officer, has been banished to OK Town, where he aims to silence protesters by any means necessary. But his duties – and romantic desires – begin to overlap, and his already-dubious power is further threatened.
In Rebel English Academy, Pakistan is coming into modernity, struggling under martial law after the execution of its former leader. Mohammed Hanif has constructed a vibrant cast of interconnected characters that face this changing landscape with violence, passion, and the occasional sharp humor. Wry, searing, and deeply relevant, Rebel English Academy is a triumphant new novel about political power, religion, education, sexuality, and dissent.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2026
53 people are currently reading
6026 people want to read
About the author
Mohammed Hanif
30 books613 followersMohammed Hanif is a Pakistani writer and journalist. He was born at Okara. He was graduated from Pakistan Air Force Academy as a pilot officer but subsequently left to pursue a career in journalism. He initially worked for Newsline, The Washington Post and India Today. In 1996, he moved to London to work for the BBC. Later, he became the head of the BBC's Urdu service in London.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed...
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 5, 2026
I get that it’s satire and black humor…but rape, torture, self-immolation and a variety of other horrors don’t exactly seem the right subjects for this approach. Sometimes in the novel, it works…but it more frequently falls flat. I was also somewhat confused by the ending…some characters seemed to be acting way out of character.
January 16, 2026
In a small town in feudal, corrupt Pakistan, a godless, queer English teacher and failed revolutionary runs a school out of his best friend's mosque and shelters a woman on the run.
This novel was rather vulgar and violent, verging on a hyperfixation with genitals especially in the early chapters, but that didn't necessarily bother me because that was the author's sense of humor, making fun of reality by shining a light on its obscenity. That undercurrent of lightness mixed with some very dark and disturbing subject matter was perhaps the part of this book that I liked the best, though the pretentious humor and religious philosophizing could get too heavy handed for my taste. It did make me smile a few times because it was just so over the top. But then the OTT became tedious and I couldn't wait for it to end.
The chapters I liked the best in this were told from Sabiha's point of view as she writes essays in English to pay for her keep as a homework assignment, but women were sidelined in this as straight men were portrayed as cruel, perverted psychopaths and women were flat afterthoughts, or painted as violent whores. The misogyny that leaked through wasn't just cultural baggage.
Captain Gul was probably the grossest character of all, the philandering drunk, but I found myself strangely fascinated by his complicated character, even as I absolutely loathed him. He certainly wasn't a flat villain.
This was ostensibly about an English academy but it's really about characters fighting back against a corrupt system. Baghi's students were in this but English teaching was a very small part of the plot, so I found the clever title, which drew me to this book, to be rather misleading. Baghi himself was also an unlikable, unsympathetic character in something of an annoying, cringe way.
That was my main issue with this book; I had been hoping for an introspective literary masterpiece about Pakistani politics, and instead got over the top aggrandizement and vulgarity for effect. This one really wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This novel was rather vulgar and violent, verging on a hyperfixation with genitals especially in the early chapters, but that didn't necessarily bother me because that was the author's sense of humor, making fun of reality by shining a light on its obscenity. That undercurrent of lightness mixed with some very dark and disturbing subject matter was perhaps the part of this book that I liked the best, though the pretentious humor and religious philosophizing could get too heavy handed for my taste. It did make me smile a few times because it was just so over the top. But then the OTT became tedious and I couldn't wait for it to end.
The chapters I liked the best in this were told from Sabiha's point of view as she writes essays in English to pay for her keep as a homework assignment, but women were sidelined in this as straight men were portrayed as cruel, perverted psychopaths and women were flat afterthoughts, or painted as violent whores. The misogyny that leaked through wasn't just cultural baggage.
Captain Gul was probably the grossest character of all, the philandering drunk, but I found myself strangely fascinated by his complicated character, even as I absolutely loathed him. He certainly wasn't a flat villain.
This was ostensibly about an English academy but it's really about characters fighting back against a corrupt system. Baghi's students were in this but English teaching was a very small part of the plot, so I found the clever title, which drew me to this book, to be rather misleading. Baghi himself was also an unlikable, unsympathetic character in something of an annoying, cringe way.
That was my main issue with this book; I had been hoping for an introspective literary masterpiece about Pakistani politics, and instead got over the top aggrandizement and vulgarity for effect. This one really wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 1, 2025
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. DNF. The premise was very intriguing and had a lot of potential, but it was really hard to follow in the beginning. After a few chapters, I finally understood the author’s writing style, but I still wasn’t enjoying it very much.
One of my main problems with it is that it’s supposed to be a political fiction book (yes, it does have a slight mention of sexuality in the synopsis) but the fact that the author practically couldn’t go a single chapter without mentioning penises or genitalia or sex was astounding to me. 90% of it was completely unnecessary to the story. Thankfully, the sex scenes included were not graphic. Also, the vulgar language was horrible. I’m just not a fan.
One of my main problems with it is that it’s supposed to be a political fiction book (yes, it does have a slight mention of sexuality in the synopsis) but the fact that the author practically couldn’t go a single chapter without mentioning penises or genitalia or sex was astounding to me. 90% of it was completely unnecessary to the story. Thankfully, the sex scenes included were not graphic. Also, the vulgar language was horrible. I’m just not a fan.
February 26, 2026
Rebel English Academy by @mohammedhaneeef 📘
The story is set right after the hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as it follows story of three different people and how they were caught in the cross-fire of unrelated events. The narrative of the three characters are braided quite seemlessly. You'll only know the details when that you need in the moment. The writing is humorous, reflective and often critical of the system one is part of. A lot of the information you'll understand more if you know the history of Pakistan and the politics in the 1960s-1970s and about military rules. But don't let that discourage you from reading, it may just be the reason you need to learn about new history and culture.
All in all, it was a read I wasn't able to put down. When I saw the ARC on NetGalley, I knew I wanted to read this book AT ALL COST!! Thank you @groveatlantic and @netgalley for the digital copy! 🎉
The story is set right after the hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as it follows story of three different people and how they were caught in the cross-fire of unrelated events. The narrative of the three characters are braided quite seemlessly. You'll only know the details when that you need in the moment. The writing is humorous, reflective and often critical of the system one is part of. A lot of the information you'll understand more if you know the history of Pakistan and the politics in the 1960s-1970s and about military rules. But don't let that discourage you from reading, it may just be the reason you need to learn about new history and culture.
All in all, it was a read I wasn't able to put down. When I saw the ARC on NetGalley, I knew I wanted to read this book AT ALL COST!! Thank you @groveatlantic and @netgalley for the digital copy! 🎉
February 25, 2026
Possibly the worst book I have read in long time.
February 28, 2026
I have had to re read, straight after finishing it thel first time, it makes more sense now and I can follow the story the second time when I know where its going and I can see the clues I didnt understand the first time.
Splendorous
I read the Guardian review, I have been interested in the Middle East/Indian parts of the world, it got my interest, I was then confounded by the delayed publication of the ebook and eventually bought the hardback which is very rare for me. It should have been a simple straightforeward book but I have to admit getting lost in some of the plots details, maybe a re read sometime soon will help. while there are only a few characters in the book they turn out to be complicated people with complicated things going on in their heads.
Mohammed Hanif’s novels address the more troubling aspects of Pakistani history and politics with unhinged, near-treasonous irreverence. His 2008 Booker-longlisted debut, A Case of Exploding Mangoes, was a scabrously comic portrait of General Zia-ul-Haq in the days leading up to his death in a suspicious plane crash in 1988. Masquerading as a whodunnit, it was a satire of religiosity and military authoritarianism. Dark, irony-soaked comedy that marries farce to unsparing truth-telling was also the chosen mode for other vexed subjects, from violence against women and religious minorities in Our Lady of Alice Bhatti to the war machine in Red Birds.
Hanif’s prickly new novel confirms his standing as one of south Asia’s most unnervingly funny and subversive voices. The story kicks off right after ousted socialist PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is put to death by army chief turned autocrat Zia. Following the execution, disgraced intelligence officer Gul has been posted to OK Town, a sleepy backwater where he “would need to create his own entertainment and come up with a mission to shine on this punishment posting”.
He’s in luck, sort of. Bhutto’s sympathisers, the so-called “jiyalas”, are heartbroken and angry; many believe he is still alive, that the military government is hiding him, and some, to Gul’s horror, are setting themselves on fire. Gul sets to work, quashing protests. Known as “Piston” among his peers, he has another reputation to uphold, and he does so with equal commitment, never mind that a woman is carrying his child.
Hanif fuses slapstick and the fun of a cat-and-mouse thriller with the serious reckoning work of a state-of-the-nation novel
Meanwhile, trouble is at the door of Sir Baghi’s Rebel English Academy, a tuition centre for basic English tucked within the compound of the local mosque. Imam Molly brings an unexpected visitor, Sabiha. Sabiha’s husband has just died in a mysterious fire; her parents, Bhutto loyalists, are political prisoners; she has a pistol and, worse, an attitude. Could Baghi put her up for a while? Beholden to Molly in more ways than one, Baghi is not in a position to refuse.
The academy is a place of learning, and to remain there Sabiha must live as a student: “Write what the other students write,” he tells her. “But remember you are no ordinary student: you are a witness to history.” Thus begins a series of first-person chapters, “homeworks” threaded through the main narrative, in which Sabiha recounts her tragic life story and names the perpetrators. Already suspect as a lapsed Marxist and a gay man with a dangerous cruising habit, Baghi now also shelters a fugitive who is desirable to the thuggish Gul.
Smart, taut and electrifying, the tale fuses slapstick and the fun of a cat-and-mouse thriller with the serious reckoning work of a state-of-the-nation novel. It powerfully confronts rape culture, media censorship and the suppression of dissent. One of its achievements is to reclaim hearsay and gossip from the margins of formal politics and make them integral to its narrative engine, effectively dramatising how they can unsettle the monopoly of state-sanctioned truth, and testify to the pressures of enforced silence.
Running through the book is a sly polemic against Pakistan’s pervasive cult of shahadat, or martyrdom. One character (cheekily named Shahid, the Arabic word for martyr) is keen to capture his own self-immolation on video, while the perpetually lustful Gul pretends to be a soldier, “bored in the trenches, ready for martyrdom”, to lure women to his bed. Hanif’s critique is multibarrelled, targeting not only corrupt power of various kinds – military, religious, patriarchal – but also the gift of salvation such institutions claim to proffer. His feminism is tough and purposive, while on the subject of faith he is unafraid to violate taboos or flirt with heresy. What preoccupies Hanif is the instrumentalisation of the Qur’an. In his debut novel, Zia treats it as an oracle, riffling through its pages for verses that endorse his grand ambitions. Here, Molly uses it to more carnal ends: to justify taking a second wife, cloaking the exploitation of a vulnerable young widow in the language of righteousness.
Defined by secular and religious convictions respectively, Baghi and Molly function as ideological counterweights. While Molly embraces a kind of religious absolutism, insisting that “my only politics is Allah”, Baghi is animated by doubt, dismissing religion as the “opium of the masses” and seeing it as his mission to liberate countryfolk from the “twin yokes of capitalism and feudalism”. Hanif presents them both as far from exemplary, and while his book resists any trite allegory of the nation, the pair’s relationship, sustained through uneasy accommodation, gestures toward the limits of ideological purity, as well as the necessity of compromise.
Why “Rebel” English Academy? Because for its founder, Baghi, it is where “rebels of tomorrow” are made: children who, while learning English, are taught to doubt and to question; who would be “armed with a language that would pretend to serve power but in the end would smash it”. That canny, insurgent spirit courses through the stories of Sabiha and through every page of Hanif’s remarkable novel. Crackling with incendiary themes and theses, this account of life under authoritarian siege is fiercely local and incontestably universal, harrowing and mutinously entertaining: a sure-fire Booker contender.
Rebel English Academy by Mohammed
Hanif
Splendorous
I read the Guardian review, I have been interested in the Middle East/Indian parts of the world, it got my interest, I was then confounded by the delayed publication of the ebook and eventually bought the hardback which is very rare for me. It should have been a simple straightforeward book but I have to admit getting lost in some of the plots details, maybe a re read sometime soon will help. while there are only a few characters in the book they turn out to be complicated people with complicated things going on in their heads.
Mohammed Hanif’s novels address the more troubling aspects of Pakistani history and politics with unhinged, near-treasonous irreverence. His 2008 Booker-longlisted debut, A Case of Exploding Mangoes, was a scabrously comic portrait of General Zia-ul-Haq in the days leading up to his death in a suspicious plane crash in 1988. Masquerading as a whodunnit, it was a satire of religiosity and military authoritarianism. Dark, irony-soaked comedy that marries farce to unsparing truth-telling was also the chosen mode for other vexed subjects, from violence against women and religious minorities in Our Lady of Alice Bhatti to the war machine in Red Birds.
Hanif’s prickly new novel confirms his standing as one of south Asia’s most unnervingly funny and subversive voices. The story kicks off right after ousted socialist PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is put to death by army chief turned autocrat Zia. Following the execution, disgraced intelligence officer Gul has been posted to OK Town, a sleepy backwater where he “would need to create his own entertainment and come up with a mission to shine on this punishment posting”.
He’s in luck, sort of. Bhutto’s sympathisers, the so-called “jiyalas”, are heartbroken and angry; many believe he is still alive, that the military government is hiding him, and some, to Gul’s horror, are setting themselves on fire. Gul sets to work, quashing protests. Known as “Piston” among his peers, he has another reputation to uphold, and he does so with equal commitment, never mind that a woman is carrying his child.
Hanif fuses slapstick and the fun of a cat-and-mouse thriller with the serious reckoning work of a state-of-the-nation novel
Meanwhile, trouble is at the door of Sir Baghi’s Rebel English Academy, a tuition centre for basic English tucked within the compound of the local mosque. Imam Molly brings an unexpected visitor, Sabiha. Sabiha’s husband has just died in a mysterious fire; her parents, Bhutto loyalists, are political prisoners; she has a pistol and, worse, an attitude. Could Baghi put her up for a while? Beholden to Molly in more ways than one, Baghi is not in a position to refuse.
The academy is a place of learning, and to remain there Sabiha must live as a student: “Write what the other students write,” he tells her. “But remember you are no ordinary student: you are a witness to history.” Thus begins a series of first-person chapters, “homeworks” threaded through the main narrative, in which Sabiha recounts her tragic life story and names the perpetrators. Already suspect as a lapsed Marxist and a gay man with a dangerous cruising habit, Baghi now also shelters a fugitive who is desirable to the thuggish Gul.
Smart, taut and electrifying, the tale fuses slapstick and the fun of a cat-and-mouse thriller with the serious reckoning work of a state-of-the-nation novel. It powerfully confronts rape culture, media censorship and the suppression of dissent. One of its achievements is to reclaim hearsay and gossip from the margins of formal politics and make them integral to its narrative engine, effectively dramatising how they can unsettle the monopoly of state-sanctioned truth, and testify to the pressures of enforced silence.
Running through the book is a sly polemic against Pakistan’s pervasive cult of shahadat, or martyrdom. One character (cheekily named Shahid, the Arabic word for martyr) is keen to capture his own self-immolation on video, while the perpetually lustful Gul pretends to be a soldier, “bored in the trenches, ready for martyrdom”, to lure women to his bed. Hanif’s critique is multibarrelled, targeting not only corrupt power of various kinds – military, religious, patriarchal – but also the gift of salvation such institutions claim to proffer. His feminism is tough and purposive, while on the subject of faith he is unafraid to violate taboos or flirt with heresy. What preoccupies Hanif is the instrumentalisation of the Qur’an. In his debut novel, Zia treats it as an oracle, riffling through its pages for verses that endorse his grand ambitions. Here, Molly uses it to more carnal ends: to justify taking a second wife, cloaking the exploitation of a vulnerable young widow in the language of righteousness.
Defined by secular and religious convictions respectively, Baghi and Molly function as ideological counterweights. While Molly embraces a kind of religious absolutism, insisting that “my only politics is Allah”, Baghi is animated by doubt, dismissing religion as the “opium of the masses” and seeing it as his mission to liberate countryfolk from the “twin yokes of capitalism and feudalism”. Hanif presents them both as far from exemplary, and while his book resists any trite allegory of the nation, the pair’s relationship, sustained through uneasy accommodation, gestures toward the limits of ideological purity, as well as the necessity of compromise.
Why “Rebel” English Academy? Because for its founder, Baghi, it is where “rebels of tomorrow” are made: children who, while learning English, are taught to doubt and to question; who would be “armed with a language that would pretend to serve power but in the end would smash it”. That canny, insurgent spirit courses through the stories of Sabiha and through every page of Hanif’s remarkable novel. Crackling with incendiary themes and theses, this account of life under authoritarian siege is fiercely local and incontestably universal, harrowing and mutinously entertaining: a sure-fire Booker contender.
Rebel English Academy by Mohammed
Hanif
February 17, 2026
First and foremost, I wanna thank Grove Atlantic and Goodreads for this gifted ARC of Rebel English Academy by Mohammed Hanif. This is my honest review.
A cleverly written exploration of three deeply flawed characters whose lives intertwine unexpectedly as the death of a politician haunts the background, setting their ordinary town and its inhabitants ablaze. This has become my favorite book of 2026 so far. Mohammed Hanif has constructed a work of literature so sharp and intriguing it is truly a delight to read. With a clinical eye for his character’s destinies, he weaves a story around them and plagues it with ominous premonitions that seem like just threads that lead nowhere but as the story progresses they tie up effortlessly in what can only be described as a superb mastery of his craft.
Sabiha Bano, Baghi and Captain Gul drag you to OK Town, like they are some terrible angel of death and drop you in the purgatory torn by political disarray, military corruption, zealotry and abuse. And you have no option but to become a bystander to all the darkness and treachery that oozes from the pages. But at the same time you also bear witness to vindication and divine justice. I cannot tell you how glad I was to see Sabiha break free from all these terrible men who only wanted to destroy her, tear her to smithereens and then pat themselves on the back for doing what their deranged minds deemed worthy a punishment for the woman they kept building and breaking down inside their heads. And it’s quite ironic that the only way she was able to get her freedom was in jail. But that’s her only haven for now. Away from the monsters that ache for her demise, for chasing her like prey and digging their hungry maws on her flesh. I’m glad she was able to run again and realize what it all meant for her in the end.
As for Captain Gul nothing like purifying fire to vanquish a misogynist psychopath with a superiority complex. The true villain hiding behind a mantle of justice and self righteousness. It was funny how he suddenly became a judge of morality and order while his soul was completely rotten to the core behind closed doors. A man who ached to bring down zealotry when he himself was a zealot and basically part of the problem that plagued OK Town. I think the way his descent to madness was written was brilliant because it did fit the terrible person we had seen glimpses of peppered here and there throughout the novel. Also, it was such a brilliant thing to have Noor Nabi feed his ego so much it fattened his head and slowly but surely the twisted thoughts that began to brew after that encounter led to the horrifying decisions that paved his downfall. It was so poetic how he didn’t even suspect he would become news and not in the way he expected. The introduction of the newly appointed Captain Gul and the final embrace Shahid gave Captain Gul as he was consumed by the flames was such a satisfying terrible-person-meets-his-end type of moment. All his dreams of shaking hands with the Shahs, Crown Princes, Queens, Kings and Politicians went up in smoke.
Last but not least, Baghi and Molly truly deserved each other because they’re two sides of the same coin. People who tame their consciousness by pretending they are doing nothing but the right thing when in reality they are doing more harm than good in their society.
Finally, I wanted to say that Rebel English Academy was such a great reading experience. The pacing was good, the prose was brilliant and the story truly delivered from beginning to end. So I’m giving this one a 5/5 ⭐️ and I recommend it to everyone who loves a gritty historical novel full of political intrigue. It comes out today so run to your nearest bookstore and get it. It’s totally worth it.
A cleverly written exploration of three deeply flawed characters whose lives intertwine unexpectedly as the death of a politician haunts the background, setting their ordinary town and its inhabitants ablaze. This has become my favorite book of 2026 so far. Mohammed Hanif has constructed a work of literature so sharp and intriguing it is truly a delight to read. With a clinical eye for his character’s destinies, he weaves a story around them and plagues it with ominous premonitions that seem like just threads that lead nowhere but as the story progresses they tie up effortlessly in what can only be described as a superb mastery of his craft.
Sabiha Bano, Baghi and Captain Gul drag you to OK Town, like they are some terrible angel of death and drop you in the purgatory torn by political disarray, military corruption, zealotry and abuse. And you have no option but to become a bystander to all the darkness and treachery that oozes from the pages. But at the same time you also bear witness to vindication and divine justice. I cannot tell you how glad I was to see Sabiha break free from all these terrible men who only wanted to destroy her, tear her to smithereens and then pat themselves on the back for doing what their deranged minds deemed worthy a punishment for the woman they kept building and breaking down inside their heads. And it’s quite ironic that the only way she was able to get her freedom was in jail. But that’s her only haven for now. Away from the monsters that ache for her demise, for chasing her like prey and digging their hungry maws on her flesh. I’m glad she was able to run again and realize what it all meant for her in the end.
As for Captain Gul nothing like purifying fire to vanquish a misogynist psychopath with a superiority complex. The true villain hiding behind a mantle of justice and self righteousness. It was funny how he suddenly became a judge of morality and order while his soul was completely rotten to the core behind closed doors. A man who ached to bring down zealotry when he himself was a zealot and basically part of the problem that plagued OK Town. I think the way his descent to madness was written was brilliant because it did fit the terrible person we had seen glimpses of peppered here and there throughout the novel. Also, it was such a brilliant thing to have Noor Nabi feed his ego so much it fattened his head and slowly but surely the twisted thoughts that began to brew after that encounter led to the horrifying decisions that paved his downfall. It was so poetic how he didn’t even suspect he would become news and not in the way he expected. The introduction of the newly appointed Captain Gul and the final embrace Shahid gave Captain Gul as he was consumed by the flames was such a satisfying terrible-person-meets-his-end type of moment. All his dreams of shaking hands with the Shahs, Crown Princes, Queens, Kings and Politicians went up in smoke.
Last but not least, Baghi and Molly truly deserved each other because they’re two sides of the same coin. People who tame their consciousness by pretending they are doing nothing but the right thing when in reality they are doing more harm than good in their society.
Finally, I wanted to say that Rebel English Academy was such a great reading experience. The pacing was good, the prose was brilliant and the story truly delivered from beginning to end. So I’m giving this one a 5/5 ⭐️ and I recommend it to everyone who loves a gritty historical novel full of political intrigue. It comes out today so run to your nearest bookstore and get it. It’s totally worth it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The novel is set in a small town in contemporary Pakistan, functioning as a microcosm for the tensions that plague Pakistani society today. The execution of a politician in a remote location sets the town abuzz, ostensibly about politics, but in reality about much more. The story follows three protagonists: a young, recently widowed woman; an older English teacher who is semi-secretly homosexual; and an ambitious, morally precarious military intelligence officer. Their lives intersect in the town, and the unfolding events trigger several plotlines that offer sharp glimpses into modern Pakistani life.
One central theme is religion. It is repeatedly shown as something invoked when useful, abused when expedient, and ignored when inconvenient. The protagonists pray and speak about God, yet also drink, behave dishonestly, and indulge in hypocrisy.
Another key theme is dictatorship and military rule. The book vividly captures the fragility of personal safety and individual rights under such a system, and how easily those in power can abuse it for personal gain. It is particularly effective in illustrating the destructive role of the passive observer, and of those who justify their actions by merely “following orders.”
Finally, the novel explores the position of women in Pakistani society. The female protagonist is strong-willed and independent, yet suffers relentlessly for both her independence and her beauty, with little recourse. Regardless of her inner strength and capabilities, the only sanctuary she can truly protect is her inner world. Everything else is vulnerable to violation.
Overall, I appreciated the themes and subject matter. The novel does an effective job portraying the chaos of Pakistan and the deep societal dysfunctions at play. The characters are vivid and energetic, with the military intelligence officer being particularly well drawn.
I did, however, struggle with the erratic and jumpy writing. Transitions between scenes are often unclear, and it was not always obvious how one page related to the next. This makes the narrative harder to follow and undermines coherence. While the story eventually comes together, it feels under-edited. This is the book’s greatest weakness.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
One central theme is religion. It is repeatedly shown as something invoked when useful, abused when expedient, and ignored when inconvenient. The protagonists pray and speak about God, yet also drink, behave dishonestly, and indulge in hypocrisy.
Another key theme is dictatorship and military rule. The book vividly captures the fragility of personal safety and individual rights under such a system, and how easily those in power can abuse it for personal gain. It is particularly effective in illustrating the destructive role of the passive observer, and of those who justify their actions by merely “following orders.”
Finally, the novel explores the position of women in Pakistani society. The female protagonist is strong-willed and independent, yet suffers relentlessly for both her independence and her beauty, with little recourse. Regardless of her inner strength and capabilities, the only sanctuary she can truly protect is her inner world. Everything else is vulnerable to violation.
Overall, I appreciated the themes and subject matter. The novel does an effective job portraying the chaos of Pakistan and the deep societal dysfunctions at play. The characters are vivid and energetic, with the military intelligence officer being particularly well drawn.
I did, however, struggle with the erratic and jumpy writing. Transitions between scenes are often unclear, and it was not always obvious how one page related to the next. This makes the narrative harder to follow and undermines coherence. While the story eventually comes together, it feels under-edited. This is the book’s greatest weakness.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2026
I’ve always admired Hanif’s talent as a writer. His prose is lyrical without being overly complicated, and I absolutely loved A Case of Exploding Mangoes. I’ve also read Our Lady of Alice Bhatti, Red Birds, and now Rebel English Academy—and I’ve realized that my reaction to his last three novels has been quite similar.
One of the book’s strengths is how well it captures the atmosphere of its time period, along with the attitudes shaped by the characters’ professions and social classes. A.D. Malang, Captain Gul, and Molly might be caricatures but they all feel like true products of their circumstances.
Now, onto the aspects that didn’t quite work for me. These aren’t glaring plot holes, so I’d rate the book 3.5 stars.
As a teacher who has worked closely with children from rural areas, I find it hard to believe that Sabiha’s writing would be so flawless. Even a top matric student is unlikely to write with zero grammatical errors. The sophisticated word choices might have been believable, but the complete absence of mistakes felt unrealistic. I also think the chapters labeled as “homework” would have worked better if they were simply presented as chapters from her point of view.
Another issue is the title. Rebel English Academy seems to play a surprisingly minor role in the plot. It’s mentioned, and it serves as the place where Baaghi first meets Sabiha, but beyond that, it has little narrative significance. Given the title, I expected it to have a stronger presence in the story.
SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT
Lastly, I struggled with the portrayal of a staunchly gay character suddenly falling in love with a woman. If his feelings had been framed purely as protective or paternal, it might have felt more convincing. However, the sudden desire to marry her and live happily ever after felt utterly unconvincing.
Overall, it’s a good read—but not one I’d revisit. Unlike A Case of Exploding Mangoes, which I’ve read three times, this one doesn’t have the same lasting pull for me.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog https://pakistaniteacher.wordpress.co... or follow me on Instagram @apakistaniteacher.
One of the book’s strengths is how well it captures the atmosphere of its time period, along with the attitudes shaped by the characters’ professions and social classes. A.D. Malang, Captain Gul, and Molly might be caricatures but they all feel like true products of their circumstances.
Now, onto the aspects that didn’t quite work for me. These aren’t glaring plot holes, so I’d rate the book 3.5 stars.
As a teacher who has worked closely with children from rural areas, I find it hard to believe that Sabiha’s writing would be so flawless. Even a top matric student is unlikely to write with zero grammatical errors. The sophisticated word choices might have been believable, but the complete absence of mistakes felt unrealistic. I also think the chapters labeled as “homework” would have worked better if they were simply presented as chapters from her point of view.
Another issue is the title. Rebel English Academy seems to play a surprisingly minor role in the plot. It’s mentioned, and it serves as the place where Baaghi first meets Sabiha, but beyond that, it has little narrative significance. Given the title, I expected it to have a stronger presence in the story.
SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT
Lastly, I struggled with the portrayal of a staunchly gay character suddenly falling in love with a woman. If his feelings had been framed purely as protective or paternal, it might have felt more convincing. However, the sudden desire to marry her and live happily ever after felt utterly unconvincing.
Overall, it’s a good read—but not one I’d revisit. Unlike A Case of Exploding Mangoes, which I’ve read three times, this one doesn’t have the same lasting pull for me.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog https://pakistaniteacher.wordpress.co... or follow me on Instagram @apakistaniteacher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2026
Mohammed Hanif’s fourth book, Rebel English Academy is an excoriating but often darkly funny and sometimes outrageous look at Pakistan in the late 1970s. It opens with the hanging of the Prime Minister - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto – and the rule of martial law. Hanif sets the action in a small town known as OK, where there is a resistance movement in which people are seemingly committing suicide as a form a protest and which promotes the idea that ‘Bhutto Lives’.
The English Academy of the title is run by Baghi, a former radical, atheist and homosexual, who has set himself up in the local mosque. His world is thrown into disarray when the Imam, Maulvi ‘Molly’ Rafiq, asks him to hide Sabiha, the second wife of a man who has died in a fire. Baghi immediately realises that Sabiha is going to ‘ruin’ his sanctuary. At the same time Captain Gul of the security services has been exiled to OK and has been asked to stop the suicides and root out the resistance. But Gul has problems of his own. He a reputation for sexual prowess, has left a pregnant woman behind in another town, and soon finds himself embroiled with the Commanding Officer’s daughter.
Rebel English Academy is bawdy, irreverent and sometimes violent. Many of the character backstories are dark and traumatic. Captain Gul, for example, is both threatening and hapless. Baghi has been tortured in the past and is just trying to lead a quieter life but teaching English in itself is a form of resistance. Sabiha’s story, which she writes as a kind of assignment for Baghi, as a young woman growing up in Pakistan in the 1970s, is particularly dark. Hanif in particular focusses on the resilience of his characters (even Gul to some extent) and their ability to keep living despite regime change and despotism.
Rebel English Academy uses dark comedy and a cast of flawed characters to shine a light on the rise of authoritarianism in Pakistan. By virtue of being so over the top, Hanif manages to make palatable what might otherwise have been unpalatable while he takes readers deeply into the craziness of life under an authoritarian regime.
The English Academy of the title is run by Baghi, a former radical, atheist and homosexual, who has set himself up in the local mosque. His world is thrown into disarray when the Imam, Maulvi ‘Molly’ Rafiq, asks him to hide Sabiha, the second wife of a man who has died in a fire. Baghi immediately realises that Sabiha is going to ‘ruin’ his sanctuary. At the same time Captain Gul of the security services has been exiled to OK and has been asked to stop the suicides and root out the resistance. But Gul has problems of his own. He a reputation for sexual prowess, has left a pregnant woman behind in another town, and soon finds himself embroiled with the Commanding Officer’s daughter.
Rebel English Academy is bawdy, irreverent and sometimes violent. Many of the character backstories are dark and traumatic. Captain Gul, for example, is both threatening and hapless. Baghi has been tortured in the past and is just trying to lead a quieter life but teaching English in itself is a form of resistance. Sabiha’s story, which she writes as a kind of assignment for Baghi, as a young woman growing up in Pakistan in the 1970s, is particularly dark. Hanif in particular focusses on the resilience of his characters (even Gul to some extent) and their ability to keep living despite regime change and despotism.
Rebel English Academy uses dark comedy and a cast of flawed characters to shine a light on the rise of authoritarianism in Pakistan. By virtue of being so over the top, Hanif manages to make palatable what might otherwise have been unpalatable while he takes readers deeply into the craziness of life under an authoritarian regime.
December 5, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
There's so much violence and yet also dark humor in this book, with an interesting cast of characters. It gets a bit confusing at times, and the ending felt quite abrupt and underdeveloped, but I found this book pretty entertaining despite the sometimes dark plot.
The book starts with Prime Minister Bhutto's execution, which Captain Gul fails to get a picture of, so he gets banished to OK Town. There, Sir Baghi runs the Rebel English Academy, where he is suddenly introduced to Sabiha Bano, a widow whose husband died under mysterious circumstances. The main characters are quite well done in this book, having distinct and memorable personalities. The author also introduces ambiguity about who really holds power and how terrible some people actually are, and the gradual reveal of people's true selves was quite well done, I thought. The various plots with Gul, Baghi, and Sabiha all of course get intertwined by the end, and the way their stories all intersect felt set up well, with their individual stories fleshed out before it all comes together.
It does get a bit confusing when there are a bunch of minor characters that come in and out of the plot. They didn't seem particularly memorable, unlike the main characters, so their introduction just created confusion for me. The end also felt rather abrupt, with a big climactic scene happening near the very end, and then only a short chapter right after that to describe the fate of one of the characters. I wanted to know more about what happened to the others, but the book ends there without really going more into the aftermath of the climax.
I found the book rather humorous in a lot of parts, while at the same time there's a lot of extreme violence, including self-immolation and just straight-up murder. That the book manages to combine the serious things with the humorous tone is quite skillful. I do wish some of the minor characters were better developed and the ending were less abrupt, though.
There's so much violence and yet also dark humor in this book, with an interesting cast of characters. It gets a bit confusing at times, and the ending felt quite abrupt and underdeveloped, but I found this book pretty entertaining despite the sometimes dark plot.
The book starts with Prime Minister Bhutto's execution, which Captain Gul fails to get a picture of, so he gets banished to OK Town. There, Sir Baghi runs the Rebel English Academy, where he is suddenly introduced to Sabiha Bano, a widow whose husband died under mysterious circumstances. The main characters are quite well done in this book, having distinct and memorable personalities. The author also introduces ambiguity about who really holds power and how terrible some people actually are, and the gradual reveal of people's true selves was quite well done, I thought. The various plots with Gul, Baghi, and Sabiha all of course get intertwined by the end, and the way their stories all intersect felt set up well, with their individual stories fleshed out before it all comes together.
It does get a bit confusing when there are a bunch of minor characters that come in and out of the plot. They didn't seem particularly memorable, unlike the main characters, so their introduction just created confusion for me. The end also felt rather abrupt, with a big climactic scene happening near the very end, and then only a short chapter right after that to describe the fate of one of the characters. I wanted to know more about what happened to the others, but the book ends there without really going more into the aftermath of the climax.
I found the book rather humorous in a lot of parts, while at the same time there's a lot of extreme violence, including self-immolation and just straight-up murder. That the book manages to combine the serious things with the humorous tone is quite skillful. I do wish some of the minor characters were better developed and the ending were less abrupt, though.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
‘What can I do? The bazaar is full of jiyalas and they want a funeral. I know he wasn’t very nice to you but he is gone to Allah now, where we all must go one day, and we must honour the dead,’ says Molly, moving towards the door. Yes, we must honour the dead, Baghi wants to say, even if the dead once had a chilli-powder-laced rod rammed up my .. for writing a letter. Baghi also wants to say that this is a teaching institution and not a resting place for girls with hurriedly packed sports bags but, before he can say it, Molly is gone,
British based, Pakistan-born journalist Mohammed Hanif’s debut novel “A Case of Exploding Mangoes” longlisted for the 2008 Booker Prize – a darkly comic novel it was a fictionalisation of the 1988 aircraft crash that killed Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (who became President in 1978 after leading a military coup which overthrew Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government in 1977, Bhutto being executed in 1979).
Now in his fourth novel he returns directly to Pakistani politics – with a tale (more dark than comic) – which begins with Bhutto’s hanging.
The hanging is witnessed by an intelligence officer – known by the pseudonym of Captain Gul – who for his failure to get photo proof that the hung man was not circumcised (and so a Hindu) is banished to the obscure town of OK.
There also is the eponymous school (which specialises in rapid English language teaching – often resulting in its pupils passing the exams to join the ranks of police torturers) is run by Sir Baghi (a former Militia founder expelled from his own organisation after a provocative letter he wrote to the world Islamic leaders attending a conference lead to his detention and torture). Despite Baghi’s oft proclaimed atheism his school is based in a mosque run by a childhood friend (actually a stray taken in by his family but then sent to study due to his corrupting influence on Baghi) Molly (Maulvi Rafiq) now a charismatic, popular (if manipulative and opportunistic) spiritual leader.
And in the opening of the second chapter Molly visits Baghi and asks him to hide a young lady friend – Sabiha Bano who he quickly works out in order is: an ex-pupil who left after a very short while when Baghi, a homosexual, in a very rare lapse was drawn by her boyish features to touch her; the daughter of a local pro-Bhutto activist (jiyala) imprisoned a year or so previously, followed shortly after by his wife – Sabiha’s mother; the second wife of a man who has just burnt to death in suspicious circumstances.
Reluctantly agreeing to shelter her he sets her the task while in his establishment of writing her life story in English (the brief chapters of which are then threaded through the story).
Meanwhile the town is convulsed both by rumours that Bhutto is not dead and is actually coming to the town and by a series of apparent self-immolations by jiyalas in protest at his death: both of which draw the attention both of Gul’s superiors and of the district police officer AD Malang – an ex-pupil of Baghi notorious for setting prisoners free and shooting them in the back.
And in further complications Gul – who already has a distant lover claiming that he is pregnant with her child and believing they will get married, sleeps with his local superior’s daughter and then funds himself coerced into agreeing to marry her and becomes obsessed with a video he finds of a woman being abused in his very room (vowing to avenge and then claim her) – that woman it becomes clear over time being Sabiha. And all in the meantime the pro-Bhutto actions in the town seem like a mix of actual actions and ones planted by Malang (and possibly Gul).
In the above I have I think only captured some of the plot – the interactions between the male characters are more complex, but also almost entirely unpleasant ……… this is a book filled with malice, dishonesty, hypocrisy, violence and frequent sexual references and while I think it is deliberately so and designed to capture a difficult time in Pakistan’s history with a transition to martial law, it does not make for an easy read and I felt at times doubly distanced both by the stories twists and the narrative style. And while I did enjoy Sabiha’s sections where at least the female voice was given space despite the violence she suffered, it seemed rather drowned out by the manipulations of the male characters.
My thanks to Atlantic Books and Grove Atlantic for an ARC via NetGalley
December 3, 2025
Bhutto is hanged in Pakistan, and everyone has an opinion on it. A martyr to some, an inconvenience - at best- to others. A disgraced Intelligence Officer, Captain Gul (which may or may not be his real name) has been banished to OK Town, and he is to silence protesters by any means necessary. We also meet Molly, the imam of the local mosque, and his once-upon-a-time brother Sir Baghi, who teaches English at the mosque's premises.
Molly has once saved Sir Baghi from prison, and being into men, and not women, and not believing in Allah, Sir Baghi would love to change the world by means of revolution, but he's grown up, and tied to his saviour Molly. So when Molly brings him a widow, the young Sabiha, as a refugee seeking protection, he can't say no. And really, he is by far the safest place for Sabiha, daughter of two political prisoners, and freshly widowed under very suspicious circumstances.
Both the local police officer (a brute, but goodness, all men are brutes in this book, casual brutes to make it worse) and Sabiha were once students of Sir Baghi.
So it's a bit of a dance. All these characters dance around, are in and out of the mosque and/or the English Academy trying to adept to the changing (political) landscape.
Through her own writing we learn the past of Sabiha, and there's no denying in real life it's not all men, but always men, in this book it is all men. So her having a gun, and protection... yes. Good for her. Meanwhile the current affairs are quickly coming to a clash and it's hard to tell anymore who's good and who's bad, who gets to be the hero, and who has power.
It took me a bit to het into the power dynamics, and I'm with Sabiha because honestly, she's right when she says she's always a prisoner but the bars change. Once I knew who was who though, and saw how the lives interconnect, it was an intriguing read.
3,5 stars rounded up
I received an eARC from NetGalley / Grove Press in return for my honest opinion and I can't thank them enough
Out 17th of Feb 2026
Molly has once saved Sir Baghi from prison, and being into men, and not women, and not believing in Allah, Sir Baghi would love to change the world by means of revolution, but he's grown up, and tied to his saviour Molly. So when Molly brings him a widow, the young Sabiha, as a refugee seeking protection, he can't say no. And really, he is by far the safest place for Sabiha, daughter of two political prisoners, and freshly widowed under very suspicious circumstances.
Both the local police officer (a brute, but goodness, all men are brutes in this book, casual brutes to make it worse) and Sabiha were once students of Sir Baghi.
So it's a bit of a dance. All these characters dance around, are in and out of the mosque and/or the English Academy trying to adept to the changing (political) landscape.
Through her own writing we learn the past of Sabiha, and there's no denying in real life it's not all men, but always men, in this book it is all men. So her having a gun, and protection... yes. Good for her. Meanwhile the current affairs are quickly coming to a clash and it's hard to tell anymore who's good and who's bad, who gets to be the hero, and who has power.
It took me a bit to het into the power dynamics, and I'm with Sabiha because honestly, she's right when she says she's always a prisoner but the bars change. Once I knew who was who though, and saw how the lives interconnect, it was an intriguing read.
3,5 stars rounded up
I received an eARC from NetGalley / Grove Press in return for my honest opinion and I can't thank them enough
Out 17th of Feb 2026
February 25, 2026
Set in late-1970s Pakistan after the execution of a major political leader, Rebel English Academy unfolds in the uneasy atmosphere of martial law. In the small town of OK Town, Sir Baghi runs a modest English language school, promising his students that grammar and vocabulary might offer a route to a better future. Into this brittle political climate arrives Sabiha, armed and carrying a complicated past, while Captain Gul, a compromised intelligence officer, circles the town attempting to stamp out dissent. Around them swirl protest, suspicion and shifting loyalties, as the academy becomes an unlikely focal point for wider tensions about power, class and survival.
It is an intriguing premise. Using an English language school as a lens on authoritarianism and aspiration is a sharp idea, and there are flashes of insight about language as both opportunity and control. However, the novel did not quite work for me. The storytelling feels fragmented, with scenes that read more as setups for punchlines than as parts of a fully developed narrative. There are simply too many one-liners. The satirical tone, rather than deepening the political commentary, often undercuts it.
Characters who should feel complex and morally knotted remain at arm’s length, sketched in brisk strokes rather than fully realised. The humour can be biting, but it frequently tips into something that feels unkind rather than illuminating. What might have been a layered political satire instead comes across as uneven and oddly slight.
There is intelligence here, and the writing is clearly controlled, but I was left wanting more depth and less quippiness.
According to the Guardian this is a sure fire Booker contender
https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...
It is an intriguing premise. Using an English language school as a lens on authoritarianism and aspiration is a sharp idea, and there are flashes of insight about language as both opportunity and control. However, the novel did not quite work for me. The storytelling feels fragmented, with scenes that read more as setups for punchlines than as parts of a fully developed narrative. There are simply too many one-liners. The satirical tone, rather than deepening the political commentary, often undercuts it.
Characters who should feel complex and morally knotted remain at arm’s length, sketched in brisk strokes rather than fully realised. The humour can be biting, but it frequently tips into something that feels unkind rather than illuminating. What might have been a layered political satire instead comes across as uneven and oddly slight.
There is intelligence here, and the writing is clearly controlled, but I was left wanting more depth and less quippiness.
According to the Guardian this is a sure fire Booker contender
https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Grove Atlantic for this ARC
'Rebel English Academy ' by Mohammed Hanif is a contemporary Fiction and political satire. It has dark, heavy and mature themes.
The timeline and setting of this story is in 1979, after Bhutto was hanged in Pakistan. It is specifically set in OK Town.
The English Academy plays an important role in the plot of the story which is located inside the Gol mosque. Sir Baghi is an important character who teaches English to the people in OK Town.
The best part of this book were the essays written by the character Sabiha Bano and they are emotional.
The character of Maulvi in this book had depth and I understood why his personality was developed in a certain way.
Captain Gul was a confusing character for me .I felt he stayed Inside his brain all the time and was most of the time a day dreamer. Through his character one can know the dark reality of military and police.
The most disappointing character in this book was Sir Bhagi. I understood his revolutionary ideology but the blasphemic statements made by this character were unacceptable for me. I didn't understand why he was an atheist.I expected a character development but nothing much came out of him.I just hate this character and all his ideologies and actions.
The only character I sympathized with was Sabiha Bano. She went through a lot and survived.
There were no morals and every major sin one can think of was committed by the characters. Rape, violence, suicide....too many heavy themes were included in the book which can traumatize a sensitive reader.Too much use of vulgar language was there and unnecessary mention of private parts was totally bizarre.
I gave this book 3 stars for it's satire and for the character Sabiha Bano and for the knowledge I did gain after reading it
'Rebel English Academy ' by Mohammed Hanif is a contemporary Fiction and political satire. It has dark, heavy and mature themes.
The timeline and setting of this story is in 1979, after Bhutto was hanged in Pakistan. It is specifically set in OK Town.
The English Academy plays an important role in the plot of the story which is located inside the Gol mosque. Sir Baghi is an important character who teaches English to the people in OK Town.
The best part of this book were the essays written by the character Sabiha Bano and they are emotional.
The character of Maulvi in this book had depth and I understood why his personality was developed in a certain way.
Captain Gul was a confusing character for me .I felt he stayed Inside his brain all the time and was most of the time a day dreamer. Through his character one can know the dark reality of military and police.
The most disappointing character in this book was Sir Bhagi. I understood his revolutionary ideology but the blasphemic statements made by this character were unacceptable for me. I didn't understand why he was an atheist.I expected a character development but nothing much came out of him.I just hate this character and all his ideologies and actions.
The only character I sympathized with was Sabiha Bano. She went through a lot and survived.
There were no morals and every major sin one can think of was committed by the characters. Rape, violence, suicide....too many heavy themes were included in the book which can traumatize a sensitive reader.Too much use of vulgar language was there and unnecessary mention of private parts was totally bizarre.
I gave this book 3 stars for it's satire and for the character Sabiha Bano and for the knowledge I did gain after reading it
Read
December 18, 2025A dark and chilling story that exposes the ugliness and hypocrisy of our society.
Set against the grim background of Zulfiqar Ali’s Bhutto hanging in 1979.
It centres on Sabiha Bano, a young innocent woman with a love for sports, who ends up victim to power hungry men who cross her path. Caught in a crossfire, she seeks refugee in an english academy run by a rebel in a mosque! But will it save her?
Hanif’s pen works like a merciless knife . He slashes through the moral corruption of our country intelligence officers, policemen, maulvi’s hiding their ugliness behind the mask of faith. The novel exposes the ever corrupt character of men who in their corruptness has never failed to disappoint us, reflecting a society that repeatedly fails its most vulnerable.
The way the character of Sabiha Bano is portrayed with resilience despite being victum of all the above. It will without a doubt linger with you long after you finish the book.
The themes explored are not every one’s cup of tea. Even dark humor cannot hide the nakedness of the truth. Some reader may find the language too vulgar or the themes too sexual. But the reality is, we being a victim of the same society know that the portrayal is far from unrealistic.
In a nutshell, it is precisely because of these themes that you might like the book and because of the same reasons you might not like it.
For me it was a mix of both. Like watching something with reluctance because you know that even though you don’t like it, deep down you recognise the truth it reflects.
Set against the grim background of Zulfiqar Ali’s Bhutto hanging in 1979.
It centres on Sabiha Bano, a young innocent woman with a love for sports, who ends up victim to power hungry men who cross her path. Caught in a crossfire, she seeks refugee in an english academy run by a rebel in a mosque! But will it save her?
Hanif’s pen works like a merciless knife . He slashes through the moral corruption of our country intelligence officers, policemen, maulvi’s hiding their ugliness behind the mask of faith. The novel exposes the ever corrupt character of men who in their corruptness has never failed to disappoint us, reflecting a society that repeatedly fails its most vulnerable.
The way the character of Sabiha Bano is portrayed with resilience despite being victum of all the above. It will without a doubt linger with you long after you finish the book.
The themes explored are not every one’s cup of tea. Even dark humor cannot hide the nakedness of the truth. Some reader may find the language too vulgar or the themes too sexual. But the reality is, we being a victim of the same society know that the portrayal is far from unrealistic.
In a nutshell, it is precisely because of these themes that you might like the book and because of the same reasons you might not like it.
For me it was a mix of both. Like watching something with reluctance because you know that even though you don’t like it, deep down you recognise the truth it reflects.
Read
February 15, 2026*4.5 stars. This is my third book by the author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm impressed by both the story told and the language used to tell it. Well, except for one thing. I've noticed quite a few authors in recent years being overindulgent with the verb "plonk." Sadly, Hanif is among them with this volume. Things were plonked three times in the first 30 pages and then several more plonks peppered the remaining pages. Maybe I should be generous and just say he was being a rebel with his English.
Some appreciated passages:
"He knows this much about civilians: they bullshit before they get to the point. You need to be patient"(53).
"Captain Gul had assumed this was going to be a Welcome to the Home of Braves and let-me-know if-you-need-a-bootlegger type conversation. He's not expecting a discussion about filicide in ancient times "(64).
"Baghi smiles as he remembers his practised candour, a barrage of little blasphemies used to drive inhibitions from young minds. 'Why are you even here? What language does your Allah speak? Why does he have so many names? Is he the creator or is he the destroyer? Is he the tender loving carer or is he all frothing-at-the-mouth wrath? You say he created us but does he even know what it's like to be human?'" (214-215).
"Captain Gul dozes off to Dr Pervez reciting him a poem about the glory of the city, its canals full of frolicking buffaloes, its lush orchards, its hard-working people, and its women who would bring rustic but tasty snacks in the afternoon for their men as they plough the fields…" (224-225).
"The late-afternoon sun looks like a big ball of fire desirous of jumping into the canal to cool down… (308).
Some appreciated passages:
"He knows this much about civilians: they bullshit before they get to the point. You need to be patient"(53).
"Captain Gul had assumed this was going to be a Welcome to the Home of Braves and let-me-know if-you-need-a-bootlegger type conversation. He's not expecting a discussion about filicide in ancient times "(64).
"Baghi smiles as he remembers his practised candour, a barrage of little blasphemies used to drive inhibitions from young minds. 'Why are you even here? What language does your Allah speak? Why does he have so many names? Is he the creator or is he the destroyer? Is he the tender loving carer or is he all frothing-at-the-mouth wrath? You say he created us but does he even know what it's like to be human?'" (214-215).
"Captain Gul dozes off to Dr Pervez reciting him a poem about the glory of the city, its canals full of frolicking buffaloes, its lush orchards, its hard-working people, and its women who would bring rustic but tasty snacks in the afternoon for their men as they plough the fields…" (224-225).
"The late-afternoon sun looks like a big ball of fire desirous of jumping into the canal to cool down… (308).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rebel English Academy by Mohammed Hanif takes the reader back to Pakistan in 1979 in the immediate aftermath of Prime Minister Bhutto's hanging and through the eyes of a small cast of characters gives us a picture of the political climate and social issues of the time. The characters embody both sides of the political divide, from Captain Gul a disgraced intelligence officer to Sir Baghi, a former rebel who now runs an English language school and Sabia. a young widow and former student who seeks refuge in the academy following the death of her husband in suspicious circumstances.
This is very much a character driven book, so if you are looking for a fast pace or a lot of plot it may not be right for you. The characters are sharply drawn with a hint of humor that I particularly enjoyed. The narration cycles quite rapidly between characters which took a little getting used to, but once I had a better grip of the distinct voices of each character it was less unsettling. This is not an easy or pleasant read, but at the same time it felt different to much of what I have been reading lately and I was not sorry that I had picked it up.
This is very much a character driven book, so if you are looking for a fast pace or a lot of plot it may not be right for you. The characters are sharply drawn with a hint of humor that I particularly enjoyed. The narration cycles quite rapidly between characters which took a little getting used to, but once I had a better grip of the distinct voices of each character it was less unsettling. This is not an easy or pleasant read, but at the same time it felt different to much of what I have been reading lately and I was not sorry that I had picked it up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mohammed Hanif's latest novel, Rebel English Academy, tells the story of a cast of characters against a backdrop of a turbulent and changing Pakistan. Sabiha, seeking refuge in the titular academy, is reeling from the death of her husband in strange circumstances and her parents are political prisoners. The academy is run by Sir Baghi, a former rebel. Then there is Captain Gul, a disgraced intelligence officer. The lives of these three will be irrevocably changed over the course of this big, powerful novel.
From his debut, A Case of Exploding Mangos, in 2008, Hanif has been one of the shining lights of contemporary Pakistani literature, and with Rebel English Academy, he has, in my opinion, pushed himself into the upper echelons of world literature. This is a fantastic novel, rich in texture, beautifully written and crafted, and extremely engaging with great characters. My only disappointment was that it finished! I would have happily read much more of the Pakistan Hanif has created on the page. A contemporary masterpiece.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
From his debut, A Case of Exploding Mangos, in 2008, Hanif has been one of the shining lights of contemporary Pakistani literature, and with Rebel English Academy, he has, in my opinion, pushed himself into the upper echelons of world literature. This is a fantastic novel, rich in texture, beautifully written and crafted, and extremely engaging with great characters. My only disappointment was that it finished! I would have happily read much more of the Pakistan Hanif has created on the page. A contemporary masterpiece.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
February 25, 2026
This book has a meandering story. Less “lost the plot,” more “shaggy dog,” I largely felt puzzled by this unique world he drops us into. The chaos of that moment in time, but also the general awfulness of the people toward each other.
There were very unredeemable characters who, even garnering sympathy at times, never manage to rise above their baser selves. Even though our hero, if the story has one, has had a very bad go, you start to see how even they seem to be their own worst enemy.
I’ll be thinking about this one. The writing style was unusually at times but generally colorful and evocative like a gritty old crime drama. I also learned some new words, some of which I didn’t need to learn.
I’d have liked a tighter plot but maybe this book just feels how it would have felt back then, even with the characters being the meaner archetypes one might imagine were more common.
Hard pass on living under a military dictatorship.
I definitely need to find some curried lentils soon, though.
There were very unredeemable characters who, even garnering sympathy at times, never manage to rise above their baser selves. Even though our hero, if the story has one, has had a very bad go, you start to see how even they seem to be their own worst enemy.
I’ll be thinking about this one. The writing style was unusually at times but generally colorful and evocative like a gritty old crime drama. I also learned some new words, some of which I didn’t need to learn.
I’d have liked a tighter plot but maybe this book just feels how it would have felt back then, even with the characters being the meaner archetypes one might imagine were more common.
Hard pass on living under a military dictatorship.
I definitely need to find some curried lentils soon, though.
March 9, 2026
Like the book and was really captivated by the writing at times. The characters were rich and at times hilarious. But some were better drawn than others and I lost track of a few of them, unable to tell them apart, like the lawyer or the inspector assistant. It also was unclear what the point of some of the plot devices was, like the self immolation and the fantastical dreams. There were so many aspects that seemed promising that it felt a bit disappointing that it seemed that they went nowhere.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Great writing. I loved how the story unfolded in small pieces taking you places you didn’t expect to go. Told in shifting perspectives, suddenly you’ll find yourself learning about a character you thought was just a side character. Sometimes I found it difficult to follow the main plot but it was fun to just go along on the ride. Also time shifted in unexpected ways and at points you have to figure out where you are—I enjoyed that challenge.
February 28, 2026
The plot or premise had a great potential. And being a fan of his exploding mangoes I was expecting the cast of characters to be more familiar ones, but the more I read this I realized this was more of a satire / critique towards the institution and it's ideology rather than towards personalities.
This fine exploration of the hypocritic mindset that prevails in certain demographics of our society.
This fine exploration of the hypocritic mindset that prevails in certain demographics of our society.
March 10, 2026
“Maybe if we live long enough we can all become good persons, he thinks, and when we die we can become really, really good persons.”
The story is told through multiple perspectives adding the “authenticity” of the lives experiences idolised by postmodernism. The best by M Hanif so far. You can read it once. Though the ending was not convincing at all, you were creating very dark characters with complex motives and approaches and then suddenly they all become good fairies. What a crap!!!
Most of the descriptions are apt and true to what Pakistan really is but it is those controversial points colours in author’s bias against Islam that taint and set the mood of the story.
I would call it a satirical allegory on concepts of Ummah, Pakistaniness, and plight of the common man in our dear homeland.
The story is set in a small town named OK-town (most probably Okara) in the backdrop of Pakistan’s first elected Prime Minister’s hanging. In the novel, most of the events transpire in the space of an English academy being run by a queer former socialist rebel who has now reformed or has been reformed.
Author made a lot of jokes on Islam though his ignorance to Islam is evident by his misquoting several islamic events like calling Saad b. Abi Waqas Omar b. Abi Waqas and Ayyub instead of Yaqub as the father of Yousuf..
Overall the novel never makes any overtly scathing criticism on either Islam or Military so as not to hamper its sales. CAPITALISM!!!
The story is told through multiple perspectives adding the “authenticity” of the lives experiences idolised by postmodernism. The best by M Hanif so far. You can read it once. Though the ending was not convincing at all, you were creating very dark characters with complex motives and approaches and then suddenly they all become good fairies. What a crap!!!
Most of the descriptions are apt and true to what Pakistan really is but it is those controversial points colours in author’s bias against Islam that taint and set the mood of the story.
I would call it a satirical allegory on concepts of Ummah, Pakistaniness, and plight of the common man in our dear homeland.
The story is set in a small town named OK-town (most probably Okara) in the backdrop of Pakistan’s first elected Prime Minister’s hanging. In the novel, most of the events transpire in the space of an English academy being run by a queer former socialist rebel who has now reformed or has been reformed.
Author made a lot of jokes on Islam though his ignorance to Islam is evident by his misquoting several islamic events like calling Saad b. Abi Waqas Omar b. Abi Waqas and Ayyub instead of Yaqub as the father of Yousuf..
Overall the novel never makes any overtly scathing criticism on either Islam or Military so as not to hamper its sales. CAPITALISM!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
2.5
i really wanted to like it but one liners can only take you so far. but seriously hanif should be writing screenplays- if this was turned into a tv show, i’d watch the shit out of it but as a book, it’s a hundred pages too long and self indulgent.
i really wanted to like it but one liners can only take you so far. but seriously hanif should be writing screenplays- if this was turned into a tv show, i’d watch the shit out of it but as a book, it’s a hundred pages too long and self indulgent.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Excellent book! Well written and so brave! I won this book on a Goodreads Giveaway and one of the best books I've read in a while!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So bitter and difficult but brilliant!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
absolutely fantastic historical fiction work with some good plotting and impeccable vibes. would recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc
February 23, 2026
Amazing fiction by Mohammed Hanif.
March 5, 2026
Very interesting and I liked the political satire but the relentless violence and misogyny were too much for me.
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