Aminatta Forna Books in Order

Recommended Starting Points: Where to Begin

Aminatta Forna’s bibliography is entirely composed of standalone works. Because there is no overarching narrative continuity, you can start with any of her books depending on your preferences. However, three distinct entry points stand out for new readers:

• For her literary masterpiece: Start with The Memory of Love (2010). This Commonwealth Writers’ Prize-winning novel is widely considered her most powerful work. Set in the aftermath of the Sierra Leone Civil War, it is a deeply moving exploration of trauma, survival, and the complexities of human connection.
• For understanding her thematic roots: Start with her memoir, The Devil That Danced on the Water: A Daughter's Quest (2002). This book details her childhood and her father's political execution in Sierra Leone. Reading this non-fiction work first provides profound context for the themes of memory, political upheaval, and justice that recur in her fiction.
• For a contemporary, urban setting: Start with Happiness (2018). Set in London, this novel follows a Ghanaian psychiatrist and an American biologist. It offers a gentler, more accessible introduction to her writing style while exploring themes of coexistence, love, and resilience.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Forna’s novels are highly researched and explore how historical conflicts impact ordinary lives across different continents. Reading them in order of publication allows you to track her expanding geographical and thematic scope.

1. Ancestor Stones (2006): Forna's debut novel tells the stories of four women in Sierra Leone, spanning from colonial times to the late twentieth century. Through their voices, the novel traces the social and political transformation of a nation.
2. The Memory of Love (2010): Set in a hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, this novel weaves together the lives of a dying man, a British psychologist, and a local surgeon to examine the psychological scars left by civil war.
3. The Hired Man (2013): Moving away from West Africa, Forna sets this novel in a Croatian village. It follows a local handyman who helps a British family renovate a summer home, slowly uncovering the town's hidden history and lingering ethnic tensions from the Yugoslav Wars.
4. Happiness (2018): Set in modern London, this novel explores the chance encounter between a wildlife biologist tracking urban foxes and a psychiatrist attending a conference, highlighting the unexpected connections that bind city dwellers together.

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Works

Forna began her book-length writing career in non-fiction. These works showcase her journalism background and personal history:

1. Mother of All Myths: How Society Moulds and Constrains Mothers (1998): Her first book is a critical sociological critique of Western motherhood. Forna argues that media, politics, and psychology have constructed unrealistic, sacrificial standards that pressure and isolate mothers.
2. The Devil That Danced on the Water: A Daughter's Quest (2002): This runner-up for the Samuel Johnson Prize is a personal memoir and historical investigation. Forna investigates the political betrayal and eventual execution of her father, Mohamed Forna, a Sierra Leonean physician and cabinet minister.
3. The Window Seat: Notes from a Life in Motion (2021): A collection of personal essays exploring travel, identity, race, and displacement. Forna reflects on her transnational life, moving between Africa, Europe, and North America.

Short Stories and Children's Literature

In addition to her primary novels, Forna has written shorter works that offer a different perspective on her storytelling capabilities:

• The Angel of Mexico City (2014): Published as a digital-first children's story, this book follows a young boy named Ben coping with the loss of his policeman father, and a runaway angel-in-training named Malaika who tries to help him. Proceeds from this book were dedicated to the Rogbonko Village School Trust in Sierra Leone and Worldreader.

Key Anthologies and Contributions

Aminatta Forna has contributed essays and short stories to several major collections, which are excellent for readers who want to experience her writing alongside other global voices:

• The Granta Book of the African Short Story (2011): Features Forna's fiction alongside other contemporary African writers, curated by Helon Habila.
• One World Two: A Second Global Anthology of Short Stories (2016): A collection showcasing global narratives of connection, featuring a story by Forna.
• Freeman's Power (2018): A themed literary anthology containing Forna’s essay work on political and personal power.
• New Daughters of Africa (2019): An international anthology edited by Margaret Busby, featuring Forna among more than 200 women writers of African descent.
• Not Quite Right For Us (2021): Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Speaking Volumes organization, this collection explores themes of otherness and features a contribution by Forna.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Aminatta Forna's work, it helps to understand her style and perspective. Born to a Scottish mother and a Sierra Leonean father, Forna’s writing is heavily influenced by her transnational upbringing. She avoids sentimentalism, preferring a realistic, deeply researched approach to human resilience. While books like The Memory of Love and The Hired Man depict the aftermath of war, they focus on the quiet, psychological process of recovery rather than graphic combat. Each book stands alone, meaning you do not have to worry about cliffhangers or missing plot points if you read them out of order.