International praise referred to the novel's bewitching pacing, precision, characterisations and atmposphere, with India's " The Sunday Guardian " in particular singling out " The Hired Man " as " A harrowing story, not so much of forgiveness, but of painful forbearing, of how we learn to live with our enemies, the people who have caused us the most grievous harm, how we exist and work side-by-side with them because the new ways of the world favour forgetfulness of past sins . " Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor for " Channel 4 News ", who reported extensively on the Balkan conflict, nominated " The Hired Man " as her choice for the Alternative Booker, saying : " Never mind the Booker : the year's most award-worthy book is The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna.
