Burnt Shadows is a novel by Pakistani-British novelist Kamila Shamsie. Published in 2009 by Bloomsbury Publishing, the novel follows two families over the course of the second half of the twentieth century. Set in World War II, the partition of India, Pakistan, New York 9/11, and Afghanistan, Shamsie explores characters living through different events in the ever-changing world history.
As history winds its way through war, colonial partition, and terrorist organizations, two families will experience tragedy, love, and passionate pursuits that will bring them together. Shamsie's imagination is formidable, and her character development is complemented by her lyrical writing skills.
The novel was praised as ambitious and magnanimous. Shamsie adapts her own Pakistani-British background to deliver a story that uses literary elements from both cultures. The book gives insight into geopolitical matters and nationalist sentiments.
Burnt Shadows won the 2010 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for fiction. It was nominated for the 2009 Orange Prize for fiction, the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and the Morning News Tournament of Books.
