Ground - by Jadelin Gangbo (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A heartful and vivid story of immigration, family, and love, Ground is the expansive story of Redesof, an acupuncturist in his forties trying to come to terms with his childhood of displacement in Italy and Congo, against a backdrop of growing isolationism and

gentrification in London.

It all starts with a fire. Seven children, asleep in a big house in the Italian countryside. A forgotten candle. Their parents are not there. They are in a different country, a different continent, Africa, where other siblings are growing as part of the same family but in an entirely different life. Without their parents, the children feel dispersed, trying to keep hold of each other.

Now in his forties, Redesof works as an acupuncturist in post-Brexit London. From his balcony in Hackney he talks to his beautiful neighbour Telma telling her his story; of his childhood of migration from Congo to Italy to Britain, hoping to come to some sort of resolution with his past.

A heartfelt tale of displacement, family, and home, Ground delivers a story with international scope that is vital in today's world.

Review Quotes

A moving, redemptive work that reconciles family relationships with tender attention--Annie Hayter , The Big Issue

About the Author

Jadelin Gangbo is a writer and acupuncturist based in East London. He was born in Congo-Brazzaville in 1976 and moved to Italy at the age of 4 with his parents and 6 siblings.
Jadelin has published numerous short stories and three novels in Italian, the first one, Verso La Notte Bakonga (1999) at the age of 23. Rometta e GIulieo (2001) follows, then Due Volte, (2007). Rometta e Giulieo had been adapted for the theatre and was performed at the Arena del Sole, Bologna's historic theatre. He had appeared as an actor in a short film, Il Contratto (2002) directed by Guido Chiesa, and taught creative writing in multicultural centres, high schools, and a juvenile detention in Bologna. His work has been studied and written about in Italian literature departments across Europe. After spending one year in Barcelona, in 2006 he moved to the UK. His latest and most personal novel is his first written in English. Taking over 14 years to complete, Jadelin started the novel when he first arrived in the country and could barely speak the language. The project was discontinued many times due to the obvious language barrier, art and musical projects, and a career in acupuncture to pursue. Jadelin eventually persisted on his main project. The result is Ground.