NW

British author Zadie Smith’s tragicomic novel NW (Penguin Press, 2012), nominated for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2013, presents the interconnected story of several protagonists living in contemporary London. The friendship of Leah Hanwell and Keisha (later Natalie) Blake is central to the narrative. As they grow from childhood, through adolescence, and adulthood, the two are repeatedly challenged in their attempts to navigate issues of social class, race, gender, education, career aspirations, and family life. Alongside their story, NW provides a glimpse into the life of Felix Cooper, who is struggling but determined to leave behind a life of addiction and self-destructive behavior. Though their identities and concerns may differ, the characters are united by their search for an authentic sense of self. The title of the novel refers to the postal code for the northwest region of the city, where all the characters live, and the geography of London shapes the lives and behavior of the characters as they attempt to define themselves.

The novel’s first part, “Visitation,” centers on Leah’s story. Born into a middle-class family of Irish immigrants, Leah enjoys a stable childhood in the Caldwell section of northwest London.