Book Series Guide

Author guide

Caleb Azumah Nelson Books in Order

Caleb Azumah Nelson is a British-Ghanaian writer and photographer from southeast London. His fiction includes the award-winning novels Open Water and Small Worlds, alongside the separately published short-story work A Little Unsteadily into Light; his writing frequently explores Black identity, intimacy, masculinity, migration, family, music, and belonging.

literary fictioncontemporary fictionshort stories

Catalog record updated .

Caleb Azumah Nelson's Newest Book

Cover of Small Worlds

Small Worlds

novel · First published 2023

THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING NOVEL SHORTLISTED FOR THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 2024 Dancing is the one thing that can solve Stephen's problems. At Church with his family, the shimmer of Black hands raised in praise. With his band, making music speaking not just to their hardships, but their joys. Grooving with his best friend, so close their heads might touch. Dancing alone to his father's records, uncovering parts of a man he has never truly known. His youth, shame and sacrifice. Stephen has only ever known himself in song. But what becomes of him when the music fades? Set over the course of three summers, from South London to Ghana and back again, SMALL WORLDS is a novel about the worlds we build for ourselves. The worlds we live, dance and love within. ***** 'Caleb Azumah Nelson's stunning second novel confirms his status as a literary star' Observer 'Beautiful, unforgettable and all-consuming' Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie 'SMALL WORLDS is a book for everyone . . . an uplifting symphony of a summer read' Times Top 10 Sunday Times bestseller, May 2023

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of Open Water

Open Water

Debut novel and the clearest entry point to Nelson's fiction.

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Novels (2)
  1. Open Water

    novel · 2021

    Two young people meet at a pub in South East London. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists -- he a photographer, she a dancer -- trying to make their mark in…

  2. Small Worlds

    novel · 2023

    THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING NOVEL SHORTLISTED FOR THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 2024 Dancing is the one thing that can solve Stephen's problems. At Church with his family, the shimmer of Black hands raised in praise. With his band,…

Short fiction (1)
  1. A Little Unsteadily into Light

    short-story · 2022