Rebel English Academy

From the Booker-longlisted author of A Case of Exploding Mangoes comes a darkly comic, searing new novel about political power, religion, education, sexuality, and dissent. Set in the aftermath of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's 1979 execution, Rebel English Academy follows a vibrant cast of interconnected characters navigating the chaos of martial-law Pakistan with violence, passion, and sharp humor. Wry, unnervingly funny, and deeply relevant, this is a triumphant novel about survival under authoritarian siege.

The Academy and the Upheaval
When a major Pakistani political figure is hanged, OK Town erupts in protest. A few miles away, Sir Baghi is surprised by a knock at the door of the Rebel English Academy - his tuition center that offers affordable English lessons to the "sons and daughters of peasants and shopkeepers". An unexpected visitor, Sabiha, seeks refuge at the Academy. She has a gun, her parents are political prisoners, her husband has just died in a suspicious fire, and she is clearly hiding something. Baghi encourages Sabiha to write, and throughout the book her life unspools on the page.

The Disgraced Officer
Meanwhile, Captain Gul - a disgraced intelligence officer - has been banished to OK Town after bungling his assignment to procure a publishable photo of Bhutto's execution. His mission: silence protesters by any means necessary. But his duties and romantic desires begin to overlap, and his already-dubious power is further threatened. Hanif alternates between these storylines, weaving them together with the precision of a cat-and-mouse thriller.