The Parlour Wife

A moving reflection on what it means to seek freedom in a world designed to contain you, The Parlour Wife is set in colonial Lagos during World War Two. The novel follows Kehinde, a young woman forced to give up her dreams and live as a decorative object for her powerful older husband. Yet beneath the surface, she burns with a quiet defiance that she refuses to extinguish. Through chance encounters, political awakening and new relationships, she evolves from a silenced bride into a woman who gradually finds her voice – and ultimately, herself. Through vivid and emotionally resonant storytelling, the novel offers a unique perspective on African lives during the war, capturing the realities of patriarchy, colonial oppression, female solidarity and the radical act of women choosing themselves. A bold and necessary addition to African historical fiction.