Summary

In Chapter 23, the focus of the novel shifts to Obinze’s past when he lived in London. He is not there legally, so he cannot work. He meets the Angolans and pays them to arrange a marriage for him so that he can get his papers. He meets the girl he is to marry, Cleotilde, a few days later and assures he will make the process as easy as possible for her. Obinze realizes Cleotilde is attracted to him and he asks her for her phone number. The Angolans say he should call them. Obinze gives Cleotilde his number and asks her if she’d like to get together with him so they can get to know each other. She says yes. The two get together over the next few weeks and practice for the immigration interview. Cleotilde tells Obinze the Angolans...