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Godwin: A Novel
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST From the acclaimed author of
Netherland
(a
New York Times
Book Review Best Book of the year): the odyssey of two brothers crossing the world in search of an African soccer prodigy who might change their fortunes.
Mark Wolfe, a brilliant if self-thwarting technical writer, lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Sushila, and their toddler daughter. His half-brother Geoff, born and raised in the United Kingdom, is a desperate young soccer agent. He pulls Mark across the ocean into a scheme to track down an elusive prospect known only as “Godwin”—an African teenager Geoff believes could be the next Lionel Messi.
Narrated in turn by Mark and his work colleague Lakesha Williams, Godwin is a tale of family and migration as well as an international adventure story that implicates the brothers in the beauty and ugliness of soccer, the perils and promises of international business, and the dark history of transatlantic money-making.
As only he can do, Joseph O’Neill investigates the legacy of colonialism in the context of family love, global capitalism, and the dreaming individual.
Mark Wolfe, a brilliant if self-thwarting technical writer, lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Sushila, and their toddler daughter. His half-brother Geoff, born and raised in the United Kingdom, is a desperate young soccer agent. He pulls Mark across the ocean into a scheme to track down an elusive prospect known only as “Godwin”—an African teenager Geoff believes could be the next Lionel Messi.
Narrated in turn by Mark and his work colleague Lakesha Williams, Godwin is a tale of family and migration as well as an international adventure story that implicates the brothers in the beauty and ugliness of soccer, the perils and promises of international business, and the dark history of transatlantic money-making.
As only he can do, Joseph O’Neill investigates the legacy of colonialism in the context of family love, global capitalism, and the dreaming individual.
- GenresFiction
288 pages, Paperback
Published November 11, 2025
1 person is currently reading
2275 people want to read
About the author
Joseph O'Neill
33 books242 followersJoseph^O'Neill
There is more than one author with this name on Goodreads.
Joseph O'Neill was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1964 and grew up in Mozambique, South Africa, Iran, Turkey, and Holland. His previous works include the novels This is the Life and The Breezes, and the non-fiction book Blood-Dark Track, a family history centered on the mysterious imprisonment of both his grandfathers during World War II, which was an NYT Notable Book. He writes regularly for The Atlantic. He lives with his family in New York City."
There is more than one author with this name on Goodreads.
Joseph O'Neill was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1964 and grew up in Mozambique, South Africa, Iran, Turkey, and Holland. His previous works include the novels This is the Life and The Breezes, and the non-fiction book Blood-Dark Track, a family history centered on the mysterious imprisonment of both his grandfathers during World War II, which was an NYT Notable Book. He writes regularly for The Atlantic. He lives with his family in New York City."
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 11, 2026
We follow two narrators, both writers, navigate mid life (crisis), meaning in their career, office politics, estranged family, fantastical possibilities, football, and one person who doesn’t really get a voice in the book but is at the center of the tale. Based in Pittsburgh (partly)
Partly plot based, partly reflective, sometimes tediously frustrating — but I thought that was intentional and reflected the mood of the narrator (but maybe I am reading into it too much).
I didn’t hate it, I didn’t love it. I think the combination of this specific plot and this specific style of execution didn’t really work for me.
Partly plot based, partly reflective, sometimes tediously frustrating — but I thought that was intentional and reflected the mood of the narrator (but maybe I am reading into it too much).
I didn’t hate it, I didn’t love it. I think the combination of this specific plot and this specific style of execution didn’t really work for me.
Displaying 1 of 1 review