by Diana Athill
First published 2012
Diana Athill looks back on her connection with Hakim Jamal, a charismatic Black activist she encountered in late 1960s London. Jamal had transformed himself from a troubled youth into a powerful voice for disenfranchised Black Americans and a devoted follower of Malcolm X's teachings. He moved through influential circles, becoming Jean Seberg's romantic partner and writing about his mentor Malcolm X. But Jamal's mental state deteriorated as delusions of divinity consumed him. Athill observed his relationship with Gail Benson, daughter of a British Member of Parliament, as both became entangled in increasingly dangerous circumstances. Athill chronicles these volatile friendships with unflinching directness, following the tragic path that led to both Jamal's and Benson's murders. The memoir captures the collision between personal loyalty and the recognition of someone's psychological unraveling.
Genres: 20th-century, african-american, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, true-story
Setting: London
Period: 1960s
135 pages · Paperback · Granta Books
Content warnings: mental-illness, murder