A collaborative event with the Toronto International Festival of Authors, join award-winning author Damon Galgut to talk about his 2021 Booker Prize winning novel, The Promise, a modern family saga that could only have come from South Africa, written in gorgeous prose. In conversation with journalist Aparita Bhandari.

Haunted by an unmet promise, the Swart family loses touch an after the death of their matriarch. Adrift, the lives of the three siblings move separately through the uncharted waters of South Africa; Anton, the golden boy who bitterly resents his life’s unfulfilled potential; Astrid, whose beauty is her power; and the youngest, Amor, whose life is shaped by a nebulous feeling of guilt. Reunited by four funerals after three decades, the dwindling family reflects the atmosphere of its country – an atmosphere of resentment, renewal, and ultimately, hope. The Promise is an epic drama that unfurls against the unrelenting march of national history.

About this event's guests: 
Damon Galgut
Aparita Bhandari

Toronto Public Library is committed to accessibility. Please call or email us if you are Deaf or have a disability and would like to request accommodation to participate in this program. Please let us know as far in advance as possible and we will do our best to meet your request. At least three weeks’ notice is preferred. Phone 416-393-7099 or email accessibleservices@tpl.ca

Damon Galgut: The Promise