Tremor by Teju Cole review – snapshot of a restless mind
The Open City author traces a grieving teacher’s itinerant life in an enlightening autofictional novel sometimes hampered by its earnestness
October 2023
The best original photographs from the Observer
Original Observer photography
Books interview
Teju Cole: ‘Being avant garde isn’t about being unreadable’
November 2021
Black Paper by Teju Cole review – how do we defy these dark times?
The novelist and critic travels through genres and across the globe in these thoughtful, powerful essays about the lives of migrants and man’s inhumanity
October 2021
Book of the day
Black Paper by Teju Cole review – a spark of hope in dark times
From Caravaggio to Edward Said and Black Panther, this astonishing collection of essays explores art, politics and belonging
February 2020
Smell the ink and drift away: why I find solace in photobooks
Swiss bliss: Teju Cole's Alpine wanderlust – in pictures
July 2019
'It's about not giving up': behind Teju Cole's exhibition on America
The writer and photography critic has assembled a show based on archival images to entwine the country’s past and present
October 2017
Known and Strange Things by Teju Cole review – essays
Race, art, terrorism and strange coincidences – this collection engages with high culture and the world we live in
June 2017
Blind Spot by Teju Cole review – a writer’s photographs
Teju Cole: ‘My camera is like an invisibility cloak. It makes me more free’
November 2016
Best books of 2016
Best books of 2016 – part one
From Zadie Smith’s Swing Time to horror in the Highlands and a brief history of tomorrow ... writers choose their best reads of 2016
August 2016
Book of the day
Known and Strange Things by Teju Cole review – a world of riches
A life in ...
Teju Cole talks to Taiye Selasi: ‘Afropolitan, American, African. Whatever’
June 2016
'New York problems': literature puts a city on the couch
The great metropolis has always been a magnet for writers, whose scrutiny has laid bare towers of ‘issues’ alongside its grand glamour
March 2016
Blindspot by Vijay Iyer and Teju Cole review – evoking an ugly America
The Met is hosting composer Vijay Iyer and collaborators in its new space – and on Sunday, as the audience discussed the violence at the Trump rally, his work with writer Teju Cole seemed to sum up the fearful mood
October 2015
Indonesia's 1965 genocide: writers rebel as authorities cancel festival events
As Ubud festival is forced to drop discussions and film screenings, sixty authors join PEN International campaign against ‘deeply shocking’ move on 50th anniversary of tragedy
September 2015
Windham-Campbell prizes: literary awards open up with international gaze
The prestigious literary awards, worth $150,000 each, will be given to nine deserving writers: from Nigerian novelist Helon Habila to US writer Teju Cole
June 2015
Books blog
Tips, links and suggestions: what are you reading this week?
Your space to discuss the books you are reading and what you think of them – plus our favourite literary links
May 2015
The 10 best ...
The 10 best city novels
The author of a new novel centred on London life chooses her favourite books about cities, from Bulgakov’s Moscow-set Master and Margarita to the Dublin of Ulysses
