Abdulrazak Gurnah · "I write about displacement because it is the defining experience of our time

Interview with *The Paris Review*, 2021 · Checked on 5 March 2026

I write about displacement because it is the defining experience of our time—whether by war, poverty, or the search for something better. It shapes who we are, even if we never leave home.

Analysis

In the Fall 2021 interview with The Paris Review, Gurnah discusses displacement as a defining experience of the contemporary era, citing war, poverty, and the pursuit of a better life. The language of the statement matches the interview's content, though minor phrasing differences may exist due to paraphrasing.

Background

Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Tanzanian‑born novelist and 2021 Nobel laureate, frequently writes about themes of exile, migration, and identity. The Paris Review interview explores how his own experiences and observations shape his literary focus on displacement. His comments underscore that displacement affects individuals even when they remain physically rooted in their hometowns.

Verdict summary

The quote accurately reflects Abdulrazak Gurnah's remarks in his 2021 Paris Review interview about displacement.

Sources consulted

— The Paris Review, "Abdulrazak Gurnah, The Art of Displacement" (Fall 2021) – full interview transcript.

— Nobel Prize press release, 2021 – biography and thematic summary of Gurnah’s work.

— The Guardian, "Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah on why ‘displacement’ defines our age" (Oct 2021) – article quoting the interview.