At Night All Blood is Black: WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2021
A compact, intense novel following Alfa Ndiaye, a Senegalese soldier in the First World War, as grief and battlefield violence drive him toward psychological collapse. The English translation won the 2021 International Booker Prize.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Pushkin Press
- Published
- 2021-05-06
- Pages
- 160 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 19.7 x 1.6 x 12.9 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9781782277538
- ISBN-10
- 1782277536
- Price
- 1800 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Literature & Fiction/Literary
WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2021 A GUARDIAN and THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 'This slight book is an extraordinarily powerful exploration of what happens to the souls of men sent to kill and be killed' -- The Times , Historical Fiction Books of the Year 'Extraordinary... full of sadness, rage and beauty' Sarah Waters Alfa and Mademba are two of the many Senegalese soldiers fighting in the Great War. Together they climb dutifully out of their trenches to attack France's German enemies whenever the whistle blows, until Mademba is wounded, and dies in a shell hole with his belly torn open. Without his more-than-brother, Alfa is alone and lost amidst the savagery of the conflict. He devotes himself to the war, to violence and death, but soon begins to frighten even his own comrades in arms. How far will Alfa go to make amends to his dead friend? At Night All Blood is Black is a hypnotic, heartbreaking rendering of a mind hurtling towards madness.
David Diop was born in Paris in 1966 and grew up in Senegal. He now lives in France, where he is a professor of eighteenth century literature at the University of Pau. At Night All Blood is Black is David's second novel. It was shortlisted for ten major prizes in France and won the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens. It has so far been translated into 13 languages, winning the LA Times Book Prize for fiction, the Italian Premio Strega Europeo, the Dutch Europese Literatuurprijs, the Swiss Prix Ahmadou-Kourouma and the International Booker Prize.
Reviews
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Another fantastic Senegalese novel. Open your mind to the wonders of African novels.
Along with 'Xala' and "So Long a letter', At Night joins Senegalese and modern classics. The powerhouse of African writing is truly exemplified in Diop's novel. War compounds all emotion. Diop conveys the horror, terror, mendacity and barbarism of war in a lyrical manner with a compelling multi faceted protagonist. detailing his home life, his best friend, his first love, village life, his mother and his family, his comrades etc all add a colourful tapestry to the forays in no man's land. Wonderful written, I loved the imagery, the disconnect from his world and the changes that happen because of the war. Mostly l really enjoyed the repetition of words that act almost like the chorus of a Greek tragedy that highlight the repetitiveness of war, reinforce images and help desensitise the reader from the barbarity of war. The book was also perfectly balanced in that the story feels truly complete and the reader truly satisfied. I highly recommend and I will look out for more Diop.
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The madness of the battlefield.
Alia, a ‘Chocolat’ soldier in the French army (WWI), symbolizes the broad and narrow desecrations of war: land, humans…and the human spirit, or soul. Alia cannot submit to the entreaties for a quick death by his grievously wounded friend, Mademba, who dies in agony. He then converts his sorrow and guilt into self-loathing and seeks revenge for Mademba’s cruel death by stealing across enemy lines at night (when “all blood is black”) and exacting retribution by killing a German soldier. One hand of each victim is severed as a trophy/symbol of his vengeance, penance…and deepening madness. Initially, Alia is seen as heroic by his mates; then, in fear, as a “demm” (sorcerer), a devourer of souls. Our current sterile term is PTSD. This is a harrowing tale of how the battlefields of war devour souls.
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Un regard audacieux
Pour découvrir un autre regard sur une histoire commune
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Great read
Great book
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Amazing riveting tale
Not only is this story interesting, it’s character mind description is ever lasting. This book grows and lives with you. And it’s so simple, yet so complex. Is it a story or a metaphor, can’t say. Looks real, but difficult to believe. Yet, it’s the story told from the deepest recesses of a youthful mind. Must read.