Positive reviews for the ‘powerful memoir’ Chasing Freedom
In Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire, Simukai Chigudu relates the story of his life growing up in Zimbabwe, one of the first generation to be born after the end of colonial rule, through moving to boarding school in England, and culminating in his time here as an Associate Professor at the Oxford Department of International Development.
Before publication, the book was named one of Foreign Policy’s 30 most anticipated books of 2026 in foreign affairs, history and political science. It has now received positive reviews from The Guardian (“A powerful memoir of postcolonial unease… [Chasing Freedom] asks what it means to stand up to the past without being trapped by it, and whether a different kind of freedom might still be possible”); The Spectator (“Great biographers need to be both lacerating and humane: Chigudu certainly has those qualities… The even-handed empathy he displays throughout to all the players in his life’s story makes this a truly compelling read”); The Hopkins Review; and Kirkus Reviews.
Dr Chigudu has been interviewed on Outlook on the BBC World Service and on Radical with Amol Rajan from BBC Radio 4, and has a forthcoming podcast interview for Kind with Holly Newson.
Following a launch at ODID earlier in March, Dr Chigudu will be discussing Chasing Freedom with Gary Younge at Foyles bookshop in London on Monday 27 April. Register here.
Chasing Freedom is published by Bodley Head. Find details here.