A Bend in the River

A great book about a post-Colonial African village, which experiences political upheaval as part of a national revolution, as told by a foreign merchant who had taken up residence there. Splendidly written, beautiful imagery, with many good character sketches to complement the protagonist's journey. Especially if you're a Westerner with little knowledge of Africa, I highly recommend this book.

Salim, an ethnic Indian living in Africa, buys a business from a friend and tries to make a go of it in a spot on an African river, a prime spot for commerce, during a bad time in Africa's history.

He struggles to keep going with his business while things in Africa deteriorate from bad to worse.

Salim, in the meantime, struggles within himself to figure out what is right and what is wrong in a very confusing world.