Peter Massam’s Letters from Gilgil 1 Earns Acclaim with Multiple Prestigious Awards

United Kingdom, 11th Jun 2025, -

Gentle. Luminous. Unforgettable. These are just a few of the words critics have used to describe Letters from Gilgil 1 – Eburru to Uhuru, the first volume in Peter Massam’s widely celebrated nonfiction trilogy. The memoir has recently garnered several major literary accolades, including the BREW Seal of Excellence and the Atlas of Stories Award from OneTribune Media.

Massam’s Letters from Gilgil 1 has been shortlisted for both the monthly and annual BREW Readers’ Choice Awards—honors voted on by a global community of readers. The book also received the BREW Seal of Excellence, a distinction reserved for titles that earn a perfect 5.0 rating across all BREW reviews, highlighting its exceptional quality, editing, and emotional impact.

In addition, Letters from Gilgil 1 was awarded the Atlas of Stories Award, which celebrates literary works that elevate cultural, historical, and place-based storytelling. The volume shines as a vivid tribute to Kenya in the 1980s, where Massam served as a teacher and observer, capturing the ecology, education, and spirit of a country through reimagined airmail letters and evocative photographs.

A recent review published by The Chrysalis BREW Project describes the memoir as “a love letter not just to a place but to attentiveness itself.” The reviewer notes that Massam’s strength lies in his ability to “make a one-room schoolhouse as exciting as an encounter with a giraffe,” praising the book’s “quiet charisma” and “grace of restraint.”

About the Author

Peter Massam is a writer and former educator whose body of work spans poetry, technical writing, and memoir. His works include the Learning Experience trilogy, themed poetry collections, and The Cuz Collection. Known for his ability to blend observation with lyrical prose, Massam’s recent literary contributions have made a lasting impact on nonfiction and travel literature.

Letters from Gilgil 1 – Eburru to Uhuru is available now on Amazon. For more information or to explore the full Letters from Gilgil trilogy, visit Peter Massam’s Amazon author page.