Stranger, Visitor, Foreigner, Guest

by Elizabeth Porter

Stranger Visitor Foreigner Guest is the story of a collision of worlds and the ways in which westerners interact and impact on an extraordinary social and political arena told in first person narratives by Sasha, a young American, and in the 19th century by Lucy, a would-be missionary.

At the heart of the novel are the true events of the Bushiri war. Lucy’s involvement in this war has huge repercussions for Sasha a hundred years later when he tries to make a new life for himself in Tanzania as a water engineer, where he meets and falls in love with Grace.

Elizabeth Porter spent many years living and working in Tanzania. She currently works for Cardiff library service. Elizabeth was previously awarded a place on the Arvon / Jerwood young writers’ mentoring scheme, and an Arts Council of Wales travel bursary which enabled her to do further research in Tanzania. Elizabeth also writes short stories and was runner-up in Cinnamon’s recent short story competition.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 13, 2015

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richly textured, moving, often funny - but more than anything a hugely satisfying and enjoyable read. Despite the different location, reminded me a little of Esther Freud's Hideous Kinky (but without the child narrator), and Khaled Hosseini - except with humour. I will be buying the next novel!

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was visiting Tanzania on honeymoon and was recommended this book. Such a fantastic way to hear the history and culture through different generations. I well written and detailed novel to take you away .... enjoy :)

[Bobbie Darbyshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a small town on the Tanzanian coast opposite Zanzibar, a young American hopes to remake his life after an accident ends his baseball career. More than a century earlier, an Englishwoman, stranded in the same town without passage home, finds herself caught up in the Abushiri revolt against the German colonisers. In these two loosely linked tales of identity and belonging, Elizabeth Porter explores the complexities of the west’s troubled relationship with Africa and brings the place vividly alive. Very readable and interesting.