The Grand Scheme of Things
12 September 2024Imprint: Footnote Press
Synopsis
'This blistering story puts you in mind of last year's blockbuster hit, Yellowface . . . Enjoyable, riotously mischievous and gleefully direct, without losing nuance or lapsing into caricature' Daily Mail
Meet Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo. Or, for short, Eddie: an aspiring playwright who dreams of making it big in London's theatre world. But after repeated rejections from white talent agents, Eddie suspects her non-white sounding name might be the problem.
Enter Hugo Lawrence Smith: good looking, well-connected, charismatic and . . . very white. Stifled by his law degree and looking for a way out of the corporate world, he finds a kindred spirit in Eddie after a chance encounter at a cafe.
Together they devise a plan which will see Eddie's play on stage and Hugo's name in lights and expose the theatre world for its racism and hollow clout-chasing. But as their plan spins wildly out of control, Eddie and Hugo find themselves wondering if their reputations, and their friendship, can survive.
Meet Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo. Or, for short, Eddie: an aspiring playwright who dreams of making it big in London's theatre world. But after repeated rejections from white talent agents, Eddie suspects her non-white sounding name might be the problem.
Enter Hugo Lawrence Smith: good looking, well-connected, charismatic and . . . very white. Stifled by his law degree and looking for a way out of the corporate world, he finds a kindred spirit in Eddie after a chance encounter at a cafe.
Together they devise a plan which will see Eddie's play on stage and Hugo's name in lights and expose the theatre world for its racism and hollow clout-chasing. But as their plan spins wildly out of control, Eddie and Hugo find themselves wondering if their reputations, and their friendship, can survive.
Details
12 September 2024304 pages
9781804441237Imprint: Footnote Press
Reviews
This blistering story puts you in mind of last year's blockbuster hit, Yellowface . . . Enjoyable, riotously mischievous and gleefully direct, without losing nuance or lapsing into caricatureDaily Mail
Explosive from the first page, THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS gleefully lays bare the lengths artists will go to in order to achieve their dreams, as well as the hypocrisy of gatekeepers who espouse the myth of meritocracy. Never shying away from complexity while also giving readers much to delight in, Warona Jay makes an unforgettable entrance to the world of literature. Layered, hyperaware, and as entertaining as it is incendiary, Jay's debut is a hit.Mateo Askaripour, author of BLACK BUCK
From the commanding, direct opening to all the beautiful lines - I was gripped! I was totally along for the ride with Eddie and Hugo; flawed characters with strong, distinctive voices. As the stakes and the tensions rise we can't help but root for them! The Grand Scheme of Things is a propulsive, fast-paced read which also holds up a mirror to some very real problems in the performing arts worldRachel Dawson, author of NEON ROSES
Pacey and deliciously wry, The Grand Scheme of Things feels like a front-row ticket to the season's hottest two-hander. Warona Jay has crafted a clever, biting chronicle of institutional racism and implicit bias but also a moving plea for empathy'Gaar Adams, author of GUEST PRIVILEGES
