Sketches from the Periphery by MP Summers is a gripping debut novel that vividly captures the human struggle, moral complexity, and stark beauty of Darfur during one of Africa’s most brutal conflicts.
Brooklyn, New York State, United States, 5th May 2025 – Author MP Summers vividly captures the haunting realities of conflict and human endurance in his new literary historical novel, Sketches from the Periphery. Set against the backdrop of the Darfur conflict in 2005–2006, the novel presents a gripping exploration of survival, morality, and identity in a fractured land.
In Sketches from the Periphery, readers follow Alexander Barr, a young American contractor working with the African Union Peacekeeping Mission, as he navigates the violence and complexities of a region too often misunderstood. Through Summers’ richly detailed storytelling, Darfur’s stark beauty and brutality come alive, offering an unflinching look at the personal and political chaos that defines life on the margins.
“Sketches from the Periphery is a beautifully crafted and beguiling novel, full of sharp, searching sensibility and sentiment,” praises IndieReader. Literary Titan hails it as “a profound, moving, and deeply worthwhile read,” while Readers’ Favorite calls it “an engaging and thought-provoking experience that brings life on the periphery vividly to light.”
About the Author
MP Summers is a professional environmentalist specializing in trans-national impacts and regulatory compliance. His career began when he left college to work with the Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, an experience that profoundly shaped his worldview. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and member of the Hakluyt Society and Alianta, Summers holds a Bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University and a Juris Doctor from Birmingham School of Law. He has worked on environmental projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. He lives in Alabama with his wife, son, and two dogs.
MP Summers explores deeper themes, the nature of conflict, the fragility of societal constructs, and humanity’s desperate search for meaning amid suffering. Through nuanced characters such as the enigmatic fighter Tariq and the determined Belgian journalist Cassandra, the novel examines how ordinary people confront extraordinary circumstances.
“Sketches from the Periphery” stands apart from existing narratives on Darfur by transcending simple reportage. Unlike nonfiction accounts, Summers uses fiction to probe not just events, but also the universal truths of conflict, loyalty, and loss.
“I wanted to use Darfur not only as a setting but as a vehicle to ask deeper questions about humanity,” Summers shares. “Standing on the periphery, we often see more clearly and sometimes, more painfully.”
Currently available in eBook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook formats on Amazon and Audible, Sketches from the Periphery invites readers to witness a powerful meditation on resilience, violence, and the enduring human spirit.
For more information, visit www.mpsummers.com or order the book on Amazon.
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