Canongate snares 'big-hearted' debut novel by Mwanza

Canongate has snared The Lion’s Den, a "remarkable, big-hearted" debut from Zambian-American writer Iris Mwanza set in 1990s Lusaka.

Editor at large Ellah Wakatama acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Rebecca Carter, previously at Janklow & Nesbit UK, on behalf of Ian Bonaparte at Janklow & Nesbit US, and the book will be published in April 2024. North American rights have been sold to Sara Rodgers at Graydon House, HarperCollins US.

Described as a "moving story of prejudice, corruption, injustice, courage and solidarity", the book’s synopsis says: "Rookie lawyer Grace Zulu does not give up easily. Her client is young Willbess ‘Bessy’ Mulenga, who has been arrested for offences ‘against nature’. Bessy works in a men-only bar, loves to dance, to wear dresses and live freely. But in 1990s Zambia, following your own identity can get you beaten, jailed or even worse."

It goes on to add: "She knows something bad has happened and that someone is trying to cover it up. Along with the most unlikely group of allies, Grace must take on powerful enemies at the highest levels – even risk her own safety – to get to the truth."

Now deputy director of the Gender Equality Division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she leads strategy and investment for the Women in Leadership portfolio, Mwanza has worked as a corporate lawyer in both Zambia and the US. She holds law degrees from Cornell University and the University of Zambia, and an MA and PhD in International Relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

In addition to her work at the Foundation, Mwanza serves on the Supervisory Board of Care International and on the Board of Directors of World Wildlife Fund US.

She said: "I wanted to tell a story about true moral courage and Ellah Wakatama, who personifies integrity and wisdom, encouraged and pushed me to write a book that lived up to this ideal. Canongate is famous for publishing fresh and often overlooked perspectives and is the perfect house for this book."

Wakatama added: "From the first page, the first encounter with Mwanza’s protagonist, Grace, it’s clear that this is a book the author had to write. You’ll want to turn the pages. And then you will want to linger as the characters lead on a journey of discovery."