Oil on Water by Helon Habila

Oil on Water by Helon Habila

In the oil-rich and environmentally devastated Nigerian Delta, the wife of a British oil executive has been kidnapped. Two journalists--a young upstart, Rufus, and a once-great, now disillusioned veteran, Zaq--are sent to find her. In a story rich with atmosphere and taut with suspense, Oil on Water explores the conflict between idealism and cynical disillusionment in a journey full of danger and unintended consequences.



As Rufus and Zaq navigate polluted rivers flanked by exploded and dormant oil wells, in search of "the white woman," they must contend with the brutality of both government soldiers and militants. Assailed by irresolvable versions of the "truth" about the woman's disappearance, dependent on the kindness of strangers of unknowable loyalties, their journalistic objectivity will prove unsustainable, but other values might yet salvage their human dignity.

Helon Habila is the author of three novels: Oil on Water, Measuring Time, and Waiting for an Angel. He was born in Nigeria. Several distinctions and awards have been bestowed upon him for his novels, poetry, and short stories, including the Commonwealth Award for Best First Novel (Africa Division), the Virginia Library Foundation's writing award, and the Windham-Campbell Prize. The Hotel Malogo, a short tale by Habila, earned the Emily Balch Award. The Commonwealth Writers Prize (2011), the Orion Book Award (2012), and the PEN/Open Book Award (2012) were all shortlisted for Oil on Water, which deals with environmental pollution in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Before relocating to England in 2002, he worked as a journalist in Lagos.

In 2011, he edited The Granta Book of African Short Stories and co-edited New Writing 14 for the British Council. He resides in Virginia with his wife and three children and works as an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at George Mason University.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780393339642
ISBN 10	0393339645
Title	Oil on Water
Author	Helon Habila
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	WW Norton & Co
Year published	2011-05-16
Number of pages	256
Prizes	Runner-up for Literary Award (Open Book) 2012
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.