First published in 1977, this seminal work of African literature is as relevant today as it was then and could have been written at any time over the last 50 years. Nothing much has changed. It’s a satirical and biting look at colonialism, neo-colonialism, the African diaspora, racism, white privilege and power. It tells the story of Sissie, a young woman from Ghana, who is given a scholarship to study in Europe, and who travels to Germany and then England, sharply observing the new world around her. She contrasts that life with the one she has left behind and tries to make sense of the colonial legacy. It’s not composed as a straightforward narrative, but is a blend of lyrical prose, poetry, a letter and her reflections, which are always to the point and usually critical. It’s a book with a message rather than an engaging story but none the less powerful for that. Intelligent, perceptive and thoughtful, I very much enjoyed it, even if I couldn’t exactly relate to Sissie as a character. But I don’t think that was the point. Well worth discovering, and I’m glad to see a new edition, which I hope will bring the book to a new generation of readers.