Part of the Story

This fascinating and simply fantastic book is a comprehensive record of Margaret Busby’s exceptional life story, unparalleled career and deep knowledge of black culture and literature, with many personal connections to the people who shaped it. It is an astonishing revelation to read of the myriad ways she has been at the centre of our culture through the ages - generously opening doors and changing the game through her work as a publisher and editor and providing ongoing cultural and literary context and advocacy through her writings in the media. A true trailblazer, we all walk in the deep imprints of her footsteps – Bernardine EvaristoA very special work of non-fiction from one of publishing’s most iconic figures, Margaret Busby … From politics and publishing to her own childhood in Ghana and the circle of writers who surround her, this is an absolute 2026 highlight * Elle *Margaret has been a cheerleader, instigator, organiser, defender and celebrator of black arts for the past 50 years, shouting about us from the rooftops, even back when few people cared to listen … We can because she did is a cliché but in Margaret’s case it is both true and no exaggeration. She helped change the landscape of both UK publishing and arts coverage and so many Black British artists owe her a debt. I know I do – Zadie SmithIn Part of The Story Margaret Busby quotes Victor Hugo on Ngugi Wa Thiong’o “There is nothing like a dream to create the future” but the quote could equally apply to Busby herself. She had the dream that created the future. She is one in a million, a pivotal figure in the literary world, a champion of the unheard, a fighter for literary excellence – Lemn Sissay OBEBusby has shaped British cultural life for more than 50 years, from becoming the country’s first Black woman publisher to editing landmark anthologies that brought African and voices of the diaspora to the fore. Here she collects her own writings with reflections on politics, publishing and people, while recounting the experiences — childhood in Ghana, decades championing Black artists — that defined her life * Financial Times *As a collection, Part of the Story is witness testimony, a vibrant historical document and a collection of writings about a life of substance … Busby was writing long before ‘equity and inclusion’ was the hard fought for norm, before the culture wars of today. She writes of a time when black voices were well out in the cold, when black writers had to fight for every word published … It is because of a handful of people like Margaret Busby that today’s contemporary British cannon is diverse at all. Read this book for many things: politics, publishing history, people, places and a time – Monique RoffeyThis inspiring collection beautifully showcases Margaret Busby’s pioneering work as a champion of literature – Michèle RobertsMargaret Busby wears her fame as a trail-blazer and ‘daughter of Africa’ lightly in this entertaining and erudite collection of writing. It is a testament to her wide-ranging talents, as well as to her status as a pioneer in the (still) white-dominated fields of publishing and journalism – Lindsey HilsumFor over fifty years, Margaret Busby has made others visible—as Britain’s youngest and first Black woman publisher, as editor of the landmark Daughters of Africa anthologies, as quiet architect of our collective memory. Now, at last, her own remarkable voice takes centre stage in this essential collection – Sarah Ladipo ManyikaA deeply personal and fascinating curation of cultural writings that take us step by step through key moments of political intervention and the formation of a diasporic and international body of global writing – Susheila Nasta

Margaret Busby (Nana Akua Ackon), CBE, Hon. FRSL, is a publisher, editor, writer, broadcaster, activist, and mentor. She has received numerous awards and honorary doctorates and has judged prestigious literary prizes, including the Booker. She has also served on the boards of organizations such as the Royal Literary Fund, Wasafiri magazine, Tomorrow’s Warriors, the Africa Centre in London, and the Caine Prize. In 2023, she was appointed President of English PEN.