Happiness by Aminatta Forna

Attila, a Ghanaian psychiatrist visiting London to deliver a conference keynote speech, is an internationally respected expert on PTSD. Jean, an American, is a biologist, studying urban foxes on a short-term EU contract. They bump into each other, literally, on Waterloo Bridge in London. By coincidence, they meet again a few hours later, through their joint efforts to help a homeless man and his dog. After that, the two strangers go for a drink and their stories begin to intertwine.

Personally, I was more drawn to Attila, ‘a man so tall he appeared to be wading through the crowd’. His physical stature is matched by his big heart. When it becomes clear that he must take responsibility, not only for finding his missing niece and her child but also for rescuing his former lover, Attila steps up without hesitation. A childless widower, he is alone in life through circumstance, not by choice. In spite of, or perhaps because of, the horrors he has witnessed in theatres of war, he loves to laugh and passionately enjoys the good things of life. He relishes flavours, and asks to be seated close to the kitchen in restaurants, so that he can enjoy the appearance and smells of the dishes being carried past. Whenever an opportunity offers, he dances.

Jean is a natural loner sustained by her passion for wildlife, sparked off by the coyotes of her native New England. A mature woman with pale silver hair worn in a pony-tail, she is tall enough to come up to Attila’s chin. Divorced, she has left behind a husband who demanded more attention than she could give, and an adult son whose love she fears she has lost. Her world is populated by the wild urban foxes of Southwark: Light Bright, Rocky, Redbone. She runs compulsively and sees food as fuel. In contrast to her earthbound life among the foxes, she creates a roof garden to tempt an agoraphobic woman out of doors. Her character is well drawn, but I found her personality cold in comparison with Attila’s. Perhaps I could empathise more with Jean if I were fonder of foxes.

Gradually, a tentative love affair begins. Most readers will enjoy this, but or me, it was the least significant aspect of the book. I was more interested in the support networks each of them develops, in order to pursue their separate targets. Jean values her contacts among street sweepers from Sierra Leone, who record fox sightings for her. Attila strikes up a friendship with his hotel’s doorman who, like him, is from Ghana, and discovers a community of his compatriots. When Attila’s niece’s young son runs away, it is these doormen, traffic wardens and street sweepers who rally round to find the boy.

Although the plot sounds straightforward, the themes covered in ‘Happiness’ are complex. Both Attila and Jean are middle-aged, so their attitudes have been shaped by decades of relationships, work and personal trauma. Flashbacks take the reader across Africa, America and Europe. Attila’s adventures in war zones are brought to life. The reader also witnesses Jean’s first contact with wild coyotes, her inability to reconcile her enthusiasm for wildlife with her family’s lifestyle and her struggle to educate an unreceptive public about the significance of urban foxes.

In ‘Happiness’, Aminatta Forna presents a visitor’s view of London, describing its delights alongside the social issues obvious to a casual visitor. She highlights the endless network of contacts that links London, not only to every corner of the known world, but also to parts unknown. Her touch is light and often humorous, even when her characters discuss deep issues such as the true nature of happiness. The need to develop resilience is emphasised when Komba, a trauma survivor, is asked about his future. He replies, ‘I am hopeful.’ This reminded me of a quotation from R.L. Stevenson, ‘To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.’ My lasting impression of this book is of the value of human kindness.

‘Happiness’ is published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.