She Would Be King

A Novel

By: Wayétu Moore

Narrated by: Wayétu Moore

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Sarah Jessica Parker and the American Library Association Book Club Central Official Selection

A novel of exhilarating range, magical realism, and history - a dazzling retelling of Liberia’s formation

Wayétu Moore’s powerful debut novel, She Would Be King, reimagines the dramatic story of Liberia’s early years through three unforgettable characters who share an uncommon bond. Gbessa, exiled from the West African village of Lai, is starved, bitten by a viper, and left for dead, but still she survives. June Dey, raised on a plantation in Virginia, hides his unusual strength until a confrontation with the overseer forces him to flee. Norman Aragon, the child of a white British colonizer and a Maroon slave from Jamaica, can fade from sight when the earth calls him. When the three meet in the settlement of Monrovia, their gifts help them salvage the tense relationship between the African American settlers and the indigenous tribes, as a new nation forms around them.

Moore’s intermingling of history and magical realism finds voice not just in these three characters but also in the fleeting spirit of the wind, who embodies an ancient wisdom. “If she was not a woman,” the wind says of Gbessa, “she would be king.” In this vibrant story of the African diaspora, Moore, a talented storyteller and a daring writer, illuminates with radiant and exacting prose the tumultuous roots of a country inextricably bound to the United States. She Would Be King is a novel of profound depth set against a vast canvas and a transcendent debut from a major new author.

©2018 Wayétu Moore (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"[Narrator Wayétu] Moore's soothing, restive, and contemplative tones give listeners a sense of the mystical realm of spirits while allowing us to envision the complex threads of the narrative. Her delivery adds to listeners' desire to see if the three characters will find freedom as their new country seeks to be liberated from the shadow of American influence." (AudioFile)

“Moore skillfully reconsiders the idealism of the early African-American settlers through their interactions with the indigenous peoples and braids together intimate story lines centered around universal themes: falling in love, defying familial expectations and the difficulties of doing the right thing.” (The New York Times)

“An ambitious, genre-hopping, continent-spanning novel.... Moore is a brisk and skilled storyteller who weaves her protagonists' disparate stories together with aplomb yet is also able to render her sprawling cast of characters in ways that feel psychologically compelling. In addition, the novel's various settings - Virginia, Jamaica, and West Africa - are depicted so lushly that readers will find themselves enchanted.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Lovely, wanted more closure at the end.

Written beautifully, found myself rewinding some parts because the writing was so enjoyable to listen to. Really strong character development as well. I cannot imagine reading this however because the timeline was disjointed. Also would have love some more closure at the end.

OH MY GOSH HOW AMAZING !!!

There are really not words to express how much I loved this selection ! Everything about it was perfection. From the characters , to the narrator's interpretation, to all that was left unsaid but still was heard. Everyone needs to read this book !

Officially my favourite book!!!

I really wish everyone would read it. Such an amazing moving story. Well read too!

One of a kind!

I really enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end! I will definitely listen to it again. The characters and story are so complex that I felt like I missed some parts. I wasn't sure what was going on in the beginning which made me want to listen even more. This book and story is so unique and I loved it!

I didn't want it to end.

The storytelling is amazing but I was just caught up in thinking though and learning more deeply about Liberia's history. Wow.

Captivating and Important

These stories that are alive, and that need to be told, are presented compellingly.

Reap what you sow

A herstory of a manufactured country that lays bare the corruption that colonizers visited upon a continent.
It also shows the taint the returned American slaves carried with them back to Africa and into Liberia's future.

Wonderful narrator

The story is hard to follow at first but worth it. Beautiful story but the narration is what really brings it to life and makes it great.

Amazing…

The historical background intermixed with magic, love and pain creates an unforgettable story. Loved it!

Historic Fiction with a Twist

How did I not know about Liberia? I was somewhat aware of the recent stuff: civil wars, charges of corruption. But I never knew its origins. Having listened to this as the Black Lives Matters movement raises our awareness, I am reminded again, what a terrible job our education systems has done in providing the whole history.

I had a tough time following the story early on as the characters and their locations are introduced. Maybe I was just distracted, but I even replayed sections a time or two. But, the story develops and unfolds almost mystically into a beautiful tale. It reminded me of The Water Dancer.

The narration was amazing. I usually shy away from author read books. No need to here. She does a masterful job.