Khamila Shamsie's historical novel Burnt Shadows traces how two international families, the Burtons and the Ashrafs, are intertwined across many different countries and generations. The Burtons, who are more established in Britain and in America, frequently pull the nonviolent Ashrafs into more and more difficult geopolitical scenarios, often leading to tragic results. The novel explores the major conflicts of the twentieth century, and how tensions or friendships are created between different races.
