Home Fire

Home Fire, published in 2017, is a novel by Kamila Shamsie. It retells Sophocles's Antigone in a contemporary setting, focusing on the experiences of British Muslims and exploring themes of family, loyalty, identity, and the complexities of radicalization. The story revolves around three siblings: Isma, Aneeka, and Parvaiz. Isma dedicates herself to caring for her younger siblings after their mother's death. Aneeka is fiercely independent and deeply connected to her twin brother, Parvaiz. Parvaiz, in search of a sense of belonging and identity, is drawn into the world of jihadi propaganda and eventually travels to Syria to join ISIS. His actions have devastating consequences for his sisters and those around them. The novel delves into the challenges faced by Muslims in the West, particularly the pressures of integration, the allure of extremist ideologies, and the government's counter-terrorism measures. Home Fire won the 2018 Women's Prize for Fiction.