Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of By the Sea
Literary Fiction· Tanzania

By the Sea

by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Aggregate Editorial Score30/100
Published 2001English
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

Few works of literary fiction have earned the sustained critical attention that By the Sea (2001) by Abdulrazak Gurnah continues to receive. 'By the Sea' is a haunting tale of exile and memory, following the life of Saleh Omar, an elderly asylum seeker from Zanzibar. As he arrives in England, his past is slowly revealed through encounters with another Zanzibari expatriate. Gurnah's novel is a meditation on displacement, the search for identity, and the enduring scars of political upheaval. Themes of exile, memory, identity run through the work.

Book Details

AuthorAbdulrazak Gurnah
Published2001
Country of Origin🇹🇿 Tanzania
LanguageEnglish
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9781596914437
Editorial Score30/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇹🇿 Tanzania

This book is part of Tanzania's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Tanzania →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 2001, Abdulrazak Gurnah's By the Sea is a work of literary fiction that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with exile, memory, identity, displacement gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Critics and institutions have consistently placed By the Sea among the notable works of its period. Our aggregate score of 30/100 is compiled from 0 editorial sources that range from Nobel and Booker committees to leading literary journals. What distinguishes By the Sea is how it handles its central concerns — exile, memory, identity, displacement — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Within Tanzania's literary landscape, Abdulrazak Gurnah occupies a significant position. By the Sea is both a personal artistic statement and a contribution to a tradition shaped by the country's history and cultural concerns.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from multiple independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.
✍️
About the Author
Abdulrazak Gurnah
Tanzania
View Author →

Abdulrazak Gurnah is a Tanzania author whose work in literary fiction has earned recognition from readers and critics alike.

Happy Children
The Parenting Companion
Happy Children
What Evolution Actually Built Your Child’s Emotions For
Your child’s emotions are not the problem. They are the operating system.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Remains of the Day
literary-fiction

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro· 1989
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The White Tiger
literary-fiction

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga· 2008
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Road
literary-fiction

The Road

Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is By the Sea about?

'By the Sea' is a haunting tale of exile and memory, following the life of Saleh Omar, an elderly asylum seeker from Zanzibar. As he arrives in England, his past is slowly revealed through encounters with another Zanzibari expatriate. Gurnah's novel is a meditation on displacement, the search for identity, and the enduring scars of political upheaval.

Who wrote By the Sea?

By the Sea was written by Abdulrazak Gurnah, from Tanzania. First published in 2001.

What awards has By the Sea won?

By the Sea has received the following recognition: notable critical recognition.

Is By the Sea worth reading?

By the Sea is a well-regarded book with an aggregate editorial score of 30/100 on 50 Best Books. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in exile, memory, identity.

Where can I buy By the Sea?

You can buy By the Sea on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is By the Sea?

By the Sea is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is By the Sea from?

By the Sea originates from Tanzania's literary tradition. Explore more books from Tanzania on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

📖More Literary FictionBrowse all Literary Fiction books🇹🇿Books from Tanzania🇹🇿 Tanzania literature📅2000s BooksPublished in the 2000s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time