“Yes, you can laugh while having your consciousness raised; this memoir proves it.” O – The Oprah Magazine
The Perfect Gentleman
NEW EDITION: The Perfect Gentleman ISBN 1789556759 (16 Sept 2019)
SEQUEL: The Imperfect Gentleman ISBN 1789558722 (22 Feb 2020)
SEQUEL The Imperfect Gentleman: ISBN 1789558722 (22 Feb 2020)
'Hurrah for a memoir that isn't miserable! Hurray for Imran Ahmad's terrific sense
of humour ... an entertaining, moving and thoroughly thought-
'Wonderfully evocative and strangely touching.' The Sunday Times
'A compelling quest for belonging ...' Guardian
'... an amusing and highly accessible book which deals with a range of theological
and cross-
Canberra Times
‘Unimagined is successful in striking that balance, by presenting a thought-
‘What a very strange book. There’s more to it than meets the eye … this Trojan horse of a book.’
The Book Magazine
'Forthright, wry, entirely enjoyable … [he] grew up amid English Christians and questioned
his adherence to Islam ... Small but significant events began to shape the author's
sense of justice, underscored by his training from age 11 at an Islamic school ...
has an engaging voice ... his mannered prose is winning ... At Stirling University
in Scotland, he found theology texts more compelling. He was tortured by the suspicion
that loving Jesus was the way into Heaven, as instructed by his Evangelical friend
Magnus, and that Islam was the religion of Satan ... A scrupulously well-
Kirkus Reviews
' ... wonderfully funny, heart-
Publishing News
‘… a refreshing insight into the texture of life …’ Saudi Gazette
‘Occasionally, booksellers come upon a title which they believe is a defining moment in their trade.’
Clive Keeble – Bookseller,
Langport, Somerset, UK
‘I don’t normally consider unsolicited approaches, but I just loved Unimagined so much!’
Catherine Lockerbie – Director
Edinburgh International Book Festival
'... had the audience in stitches ...' Three Weeks – Edinburgh Festival Review
‘I read the first thirty pages just standing in front of the bookcase in the Edinburgh Festival bookshop. I knew there and then that it would make great television and I would make it happen.’
Barry Ryan – Creative Director, Free@Last Television
‘Imran Ahmad, and his book Unimagined, came to my attention by pure chance on a rainy Edinburgh evening, when after hearing authors speak all day, I sought a moment of peace in the Writers' Yurt. But, as is his way, Imran promptly turned chance into opportunity. As a seasoned Festival Director, I'm usually quite deft at parrying the unsolicited approaches of authors keen to snag themselves a place on the programme – but it is simply impossible not to warm to Imran's contagious and irresistible enthusiasm.
It is also impossible not to enjoy and be moved by Imran's book; his whimsical self-
In Sydney, Imran proved himself as the Festival wild card, delighting his audience with his wonderful sense of humour and entertaining public speaking, impressing the industry, and quickly gathering invitations to speak in the region – not to mention picking up an Australian publisher and selling a bundle of books. Imran's extraordinary success with Unimagined is testimony to the quality of his work, but also to his dogged determination to make a difference to the world, his unfailing optimism, and his faith in humanity. I always look forward to hearing the latest chapter in Imran's life story; he has many adventures ahead of him.’
Wendy Were – Director, Sydney Writers’ Festival
‘My team and I read Unimagined this weekend, and we all loved it. I learned more about Islam and the West from reading Unimagined, than I did from all the other books I’ve read, put together.’
Juliet Rogers – CEO, Murdoch Books, Sydney
‘I met Imran at the Sydney Writers’ Festival in 2008 and we kept running into each other. Through a wonderful synchronicity, I introduced him to Juliet Rogers of Murdoch Books, who subsequently became his Australian publisher. Imran gave me a copy of Unimagined to take home to Bali. I was short of time, so I gave it to my PA, Elizabeth Henzell, to read. I heard her laughing a lot as she read it, I asked her what it was like, and she replied, ‘It’s wonderful!’ I promptly took it from her.
I invited Imran to Bali for UWRF 2008, and he was extremely grateful for what he kept describing as a ‘magical’ experience. He was a delight to the audiences, his book sold out completely, and another synchronicity brought him an Indonesian publisher. We were delighted to have him back for UWRF 2009.’
Janet DeNeefe – Director, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (Bali)
‘I met Imran at UWRF 2008 in Bali, and invited him to the Byron Bay Writers Festival
2009. Imran said ‘yes’ to everything he was asked to do: a pre-
Jeni Caffin – Director, Byron Bay Writers Festival (Australia)
‘I met Jeni Caffin at the Melbourne Writers Festival in September 2009. Jeni wrote and told me about Imran Ahmad, an author who had been to her festival, and she sent a video link. Although our programme for Emirates Literary Festival 2010 was closed, I was tempted to invite Imran. I am so glad I went with my gut instinct.
Imran was funny and eloquent, and engaged with everyone he met: the press, the radio, festival goers, students, UAE writers. His performance at the Festival was original, absorbing and highly entertaining. He made contact with an Arabic publisher ( his book will appear in Arabic as a result), and copies of Unimagined sold out.
Imran’s account of his trip to Dubai and the literary festival is on his website, and brings another part of his journey to life, and his voice shines through.’
Isobel F. Abulhoul – Director, Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (Dubai)
'The tender humour and intelligence of this memoir belies its political importance;
through it, Muslims are humanised. Imran Ahmad, Pakistan-
Antonella Gambotto-
'My favourite book of 2007 is this memoir of a Muslim boy, born in Pakistan, who moves to London at the age of one in the 1960s. With his Islamic identity and desire to embrace the West, the book paints a beautiful picture of growing up in a strange culture ... the end result is unforgettable.'
Ann Widdecombe – Member of Parliament, author, columnist, television presenter
'Unimagined is a funny, beguiling and insightful account of a young British Muslim boy growing up in 60s and 70s British society – his encounters early on in life with racism, and later with the material world of fashion, cars and girls.
Above all, though, it’s his struggle to find his religious identity that makes this timely book so important. Imran Ahmad takes us with him on his personal journey of discovery, gradually learning the meaning of Islam, measuring it alongside Christianity and working out where and how he fits in. I can’t wait to read more.'
Sue Cook – Broadcaster, writer
'This absorbing personal tale probably does more to help us understand each other
in our multi-
John Pienaar – BBC Senior Political Correspondent, BBC Radio Five Political Editor
'Charming, informative and honest ... a childhood memoir in which the occasional bad thing happens, but is remembered and communicated without the melodrama or martyrdom of the form. The author has a photographic memory for all the important bits: mechanical failure in secondhand cars, dialogue and news stories glimpsed on television and precise exam scores. I enjoyed the book very much ... I read Unimagined in two days.’
Andrew Collins – Presenter: BBC Radio 6 Music; Film Editor: Radio Times; Author.
'I was delightfully surprised to find a witty and incredibly relevant memoir which had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. It reminded me of Nigel Slater's Toast with the short, pithy chapters which are both moving and funny at the same time ... What's more, he has the best author [cover] photo I have seen in years. '
Scott Pack – Former Buying Manager: Waterstone’s; Commercial Director: The Friday Project
'In Unimagined, Imran Ahmad writes with warmth, humour and insight about the challenges and joys of growing up nerdy, dreamy and Muslim in Britain.'
Emily Maguire – Writer, columnist
'Compelling, revealing, and very easy to read. I liked the short chapters and the way the incidental observations added up to a bigger picture.'
Rosie Boycott – Broadcaster, journalist, author
'I consumed Unimagined as soon as I started it. I couldn't wait until the plane ride. It was an absolute joy to read. I loved every moment of it ...'
Randa Abdel-
'... style and a sense of humour ... what a change ... what a delightful change ... brilliant stories too about the joys and confusions of identity politics ...'
Yasmin Alibhai-
‘Unimagined follows Imran Ahmad through his childhood days growing up as a Muslim in Britain during the 60’s, 70's and 80's, through school, university and into his first job. It is engaging, an easy read and truly very funny. Most of all it is profound and revealing, giving the Western reader a deep insight into the Muslim psyche. In these days of incomprehensible suicide bombings and agonising military campaigns, when we live under the shadow of the 'Clash of Civilisations', this is a book that gives the world clarity and, perhaps, optimism.’
Hugh Fraser – Broadcaster, writer
Book of the Week: ‘I am jumping unashamedly onto this particular bandwagon as this
is one of the best books I have read in ages. Clever, simple, funny and sad, the
book describes the author's experience of growing up a Muslim in a newly multi-
Clare Christian – Managing Director: The Friday Project
'A charming, funny, heart-
Professor Ruth Evans – Department of English: Saint Louis University
“I loved your book! I gave it to my mother, and she loved it. Then my sister read it and she loved it. Now my other sister is reading it. ... Of course you can have a late checkout.”
Mary Sitkowski – Manager of Chicago O'Hare Garden Hotel
‘Imran, you bastard! I'm supposed to be revising for my Congress exam, and picked up your book for “just a bit.” Now I've read the whole damn thing! … We have so much in common, I might be your twin.’
Email from Lieut Greg Bowling – Texas National Guard
‘My grandson (just turned 16) is not going through adolescence very gracefully so
far and just spent 2 weeks in juvenile detention. (We hope this "wake-
Email from Louise J – Boise, Idaho
‘Imran's book is so refreshing.’
James McBride – Author of The Color of Water (addressing audience at Perth Writers’ Festival)
From: Kelder, Jeroen
To: Ahmad, Imran
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 5:41 PM
Subject: Your book
Amazing – I sat next to a gentleman in the plane and he was reading your book and laughing. Have to note that he was quintessentially British.
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
a Muslim boy meets the West
‘… such a trite and puerile book … this hypocritical twerp’s simplistically written tome [is] galling.’
Billingsgate Book Club, Sydney, Australia
‘… a fluffy read of no real consequence.’
Alan Baxter – self-
Originally published in UK/Australia as Unimagined
Kevin Tanner (Sydney, Australia) is deeply touched and greatly moved, and just can’t stop thinking about this book.
‘Imran Ahmad came second in the Karachi Bonnie Baby competition. The photograph taken to commemorate his achievement is reproduced on the cover of this delightful book. “Smartly dressed, suave and handsome, I looked like James Bond, although I was somewhat unsteady on my feet.” Imran was denied the first prize – the daughter of the organisers won. The judges were their friends. “I began my lifelong struggle against corruption and injustice.” Unimagined is beautifully written, funny and endearing, and in its own quiet way, important.’
Dear Imran,
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long. Things overtook me, and in my disorganised
way (quite unlike the persona you present in 'Unimagined') I let it slip until the
day before yesterday, when I took up the book again and read it through with great
pleasure.
It deserves all the praise it's had – it's very clearly and vividly written, it's funny and perceptive about schools and neighbours and friends and girls and especially about the narrator himself, with his continuing puzzlement about religion, his smartly pressed clothes, and his apparently naïve fixation with cars.
It's very clever, actually, to have presented a character so original and unusual,
and yet so warmly human and recognisable. The "I" of the book is a real literary
creation – and I don't mean, of course that you made any of it up: just that a successful
memoir depends just as much on art as a successful novel does.
I'm very happy for you and your publishers to quote any of this. Good luck with your
literary career as well as your business one!
Yours,
Philip Pullman (author of ‘The Golden Compass’ series)
‘Not right for my list. Good luck elsewhere.’ Countless literary agents
‘Not miserable enough’ … ‘no terrorism angle’ … ‘not interested.’ Top UK publishers
‘Seldom have I enjoyed a manuscript so much.’ Karen Ings – Commissioning Editor
Book
Foreword to US and Australian Edition
by Bruce Elder
Over the past five years, in the role of reviewer of non-
How do I read that many books? In two words: speed reading. But, more importantly, how does anyone confronted with such a daunting task know that their judgement is sound and their enthusiasms are correct?
A second simple truth: non-
Category A: books which would make a good magazine article and which some bright-
Category B: books where the idea – be it a biography of a celebrity or an account
of a widely publicised crime – is what the publisher wants, and, anyway, there's
always a sub-
Category C: books where the writing is so beautiful, lucid, imaginative and worthwhile that they rise above the pile trailing clouds of glory and making the reviewer's heart sing. This last category, I can assure you, is very small.
After a while the overworked reviewer gets a ‘nose’ for Category C. The gems sit in the mountains of dross (don't get me started on the argument about too many books being published) in the Literary Editor's office shyly saying, ‘Open me and you will be amazed.’
And so it was that, amongst another pile of books for review, I saw a photograph of a dapper child in a suit and said to myself: ‘I wonder what that is about.’
Contrary to accepted wisdom, when you've read a thousand books you can identify a ‘goodie’ after a couple of paragraphs. And the wonder of a ‘goodie’ book is that it turns a speed reader with a deadline into a ‘reading for enjoyment’ lover of literature and, instantly, you are savouring every word, laughing at the happy moments, letting the life of another person wash over you and saturate your being, marvelling at the love of language and being swept along by the sheer power and beauty of a writer determined to tell his or her story.
I still remember my experience with The Perfect Gentleman. It filled an entire day. I could not put the book down. I laughed at Imran's memories of his childhood. I marvelled at his ability to look at his stumbles with such fearless honesty and I shared his gentle, wry irritation at the unfairness of the world.
The greatness of this book is easy to understand. Read it and you will come to know
Imran Ahmad as though you have spent a lifetime growing up with him. You will warm
to his wonderfully self-
Bruce Elder
‘If you read nothing else this year, discover this book.’ New York Journal of Books
No. 1 in ‘Ten Titles to Pick Up Now’ O – The Oprah Magazine
Publishers
Weekly
livemint
& The Wall Street Journal
The Hindu
The Telegraph
The Asian Age
The Daily Times
MACLEAN’S
The Star
PRESTIGE
magazine
International Herald
Tribune
Liberty Books
fz
Oprah.com
Silencios
Que
Falam
Cronicas
de uma
Leitora
O tempo
entre os
meus livros
O Que
Os Livros Me Dizem
Viajar
Pela
Leitura
Paginas
Desfolhadas
Sinfonia
Dos
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“Yes, you can laugh while having your consciousness raised; this memoir proves it.” O – The Oprah Magazine