Aliou: A Novel of the Backway

by Eric Reese

Either Europe or death in poverty? Aliou’s life, in the small Gambian village of his birth, is one of hardship and little hope. Despite his talent for football and his exceptional performance in school, he seems destined to live out his days in the same sort of poverty that his parents had experienced.

After doing well in his exams, Aliou’s cousin, Daoudu, persuades him to travel to the city, where he can study on a scholarship and hopefully make something of himself. But things are not all as they seemed to be and the poverty there is not much better than at home.

Then, with the sudden death of his father, Aliou is faced with a desperate choice. With no option to continue his studies, and pressure from his love interest’s family to marry her without any real prospects, he makes the momentous decision to travel to Italy, where he hopes for a better future.

Scroll up and download to follow Aliou’s journey of hope, the sad realities of life, love and betrayal as a young boy finds himself crippled by life, bad governance and societal expectations.

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2018

About the author

Eric Reese was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the recipient of the first Mayoral Scholarship of Philadelphia (1993) and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Human Relations Award (1989).

Reviews

[Simon Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook: A very well written and narrated short story of a child's dream of doing well for himself, his family and his village. The everyday detail makes the central character, Aliou, engaging. We are given a brief glimpse into the challenges of rural Africa when it meets the city and people have aspirations of the West. A worthwhile listen.