Booksmith is thrilled to host Nathan Go for his debut novel, Forgiving Imelda Marcos, a taut meditation on forgiveness and regret told in the indelible voice of a Filipino chauffeur nearing the end of his life. Based in the Philippines, Nathan will be in San Francisco to celebrate the book -- we hope you will save the date and join us!

Please note: advance sales have ended, but we will have seats available at the door. If you need tickets, we recommend you arrive at 7pm. Questions? Email events@booksmith.com.

About the book

After suffering a serious heart injury, Lito Macaraeg reaches out to his estranged son—a journalist who lives in the United States, far from his father’s Manila nursing home—to promise him a scoop: the story of a secret meeting between Imelda Marcos and Corazon Aquino. Imelda, best known for her excessive shoe collection, was the flamboyant wife of the late Philippine dictator; Corazon was the wife of the opposition politician who was allegedly killed by the Marcoses. An unassuming housewife, Corazon rose up after her husband’s death to lead the massive rallies that eventually toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

Lito was Corazon’s personal driver for many years, and her only companion on the journey from Manila to Baguio City to meet Imelda. Throughout the long drive, Lito’s loyalty to his employer is pitted against his own moral uncertainty about her desire to forgive Imelda. But as Lito unspools his tale about two women whose choices shaped their country’s history, his own story, and failings, slowly come to light. He delves into his past: his neglectful father, who joined a Communist guerrilla movement; their life in a mountain encampment headed by a charismatic priest; and Lito’s struggles with poverty and ambition. In the end, it is Lito himself who must contemplate the meaning and possibility of forgiveness.

In Forgiving Imelda Marcos, Nathan Go weaves a deeply intimate novel of alternative history that explores power and powerlessness, the nature of guilt, and what we owe to those we love.

About the author

Nathan Go was the 2017-2018 David T. K. Wong Fellow at the University of East Anglia. A former PEN America Emerging Voices fellow, he graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the Zell Writers’ Program. His fiction has appeared in Ploughshares, American Short Fiction, Ninth Letter, and The Massachusetts Review. Forgiving Imelda Marcos is his first novel. Author photo by Crest Contrata.

Please note:

• Masks will be required throughout the duration of the event and capacity will be limited to allow indoor distancing. Protocols are subject to change.
• Because we’re limiting capacity, we can't guarantee we'll have space for walk-ins. The best way to ensure you’ll get a seat is to order the Book + Seat ticket through this link; you can also RSVP for a free seat right here while they last.
• We are happy to offer *signed copies* of Forgiving Imelda Marcos: order a Book + Seat ticket bundle if you'd like to pick up a signed copy at the event, or order here if you just want a signed copy and no admission.
• If we feel it is not safe to gather, as the event gets closer, we will pivot to a virtual event and your registration will remain valid.
• Questions? Write events@booksmith.com.