Renowned poet and literary laureate Yomi Ṣode, celebrated for his poignant collection Manorism, ventures into new creative territory with his debut novel, The Interpreter.
This highly anticipated work, weaving supernatural dimensions with rich West African cultural heritage, has been secured for worldwide release by Viking, an esteemed imprint of Penguin Random House, following an exclusive submission brokered by Salma Begum of Greyhound Literary Agency.
Yomi Ṣode’s contributions to literature have left an indelible mark. His 2022 poetry masterpiece, Manorism, was shortlisted for the prestigious TS Eliot Prize and the Rathbones Folio Prize, further inspiring a stage adaptation performed at London’s Southbank Centre. As a recipient of the Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship and a prior finalist for the Brunel International African Poetry Prize, Yomi has consistently pushed the boundaries of poetic and narrative expression.
Reflecting on this new chapter, Yomi remarked, “Joining the Viking family alongside their extraordinary roster of authors is an immense privilege. The Interpreter has been a deeply personal journey for me, and I hope readers embrace it as closely as I have cherished crafting it.”
Isabel Wall, publisher at Viking, lauded Yomi’s creative brilliance: “Yomi Ṣode’s work, spanning poetry and stagecraft, has long captivated me. When the opportunity arose to publish his debut novel, I seized it without hesitation. Yomi is an extraordinary storyteller whose daring and imaginative prose broadens our understanding of the human experience. I am overjoyed to welcome him to Viking with The Interpreter.”