When Imogen Zola Nyoni lies in a coma in the hospital after a long illness, her family and friends try to come to terms with her impending death. Jenny has talents that transcend time and space, and this is her story. It is also the story of her grandparents—Benz Tekiti, whose love of travel led him to change his name and eventually cross the Indian Ocean; his son Livingston Stanley Tekiti, who adopted the nom de guerre "Gulayde Gumede" during the war and became obsessed with flying; and his wife, Elizabeth Nyoni, a country and western singer who emulates Dolly Patron in every way. This story, with the most delicate touches and a layer of magical, realistic beauty, charts the lives of families, the fate of a corner of the Earth, and decades of its history—from colonial occupation to the struggle for freedom, to the devastation of soja, HIV, and (the man!) Always faithful, sometimes mysterious, sometimes magical, *The Theory of Flight* focuses not on the losses and failures in a nation's history, but on personal triumphs and why they matter. *A powerful story told magically*. – Letnet (South Africa) **The Theory of Flight* charts decades of history in a South African nation with the finest touches, a cast of unforgettable characters, and moments of surreal beauty. The novel focuses not on the nation's wartime losses, but on the everyday achievements of its citizens, the necessity of art, and the ability of its dreamers to soar.* – Tropics Magazine **I couldn't put this book down until I finished it, out of respect for Ndlovu and her extraordinary talent. A beautiful, sublime book. I call it 'the book of the year!'* – Novio Tshuma, author of *House of Stone*