Spanning two centuries, this compelling novel intertwines the lives of Lafanu Brown—a trailblazing Black woman artist living in Rome in 1887—and a contemporary Italian art curator of Somali descent struggling to protect her young cousin from the dangers of migration. Through art, memory, and resilience, Igiaba Scego explores identity, belonging, and what it means to be “other,” offering a powerful reflection on womanhood, migration, and the enduring strength of Black women across time.