Emmanuel Dongala è un autore illustre le cui opere intrecciano magistralmente narrazioni personali con temi sociali e politici più ampi. La sua scrittura è caratterizzata da una profonda intuizione dell'esperienza umana, spesso ambientata sullo sfondo della storia africana e della vita contemporanea. Dongala unisce la precisione di uno scienziato con la passione di un narratore, conferendo ai suoi testi una profondità e una risonanza uniche. Il suo stile letterario è allo stesso tempo raffinato e accessibile, invitando i lettori a contemplare le complessità dell'esistenza e del mondo.
The novel uniquely employs a second-person perspective to depict a powerful uprising of women stone crushers in a fictional African country. As they demand fair wages for their labor in a gravel pit, their initial village protest escalates into a statewide rebellion, challenging corrupt leadership and the oppressive status quo upheld by government and mining corporations. This compelling narrative, now available in English, resonates with themes of resistance and empowerment, drawing parallels to the works of notable authors like Chinua Achebe and Imbolo Mbue.
A Los Angeles Times Book Review Favorite Book of the YearJohnny Mad Dog, age sixteen, is a member of a rebel faction bent on seizing control of war-torn Congo. Laokolé, at the same age, simply wants to finish high school. Together, they narrate a crossing of paths that has explosive results. Set amid the chaos of West Africa's civil wars, and acclaimed by such writers as Philip Roth and Chinua Achebe, Emmanuel Dongala's powerful, exuberant, and terrifying new work is a coming-of-age story like no other.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of 18th-century Europe, the story explores the life of George Bridgetower, a talented mixed-race violinist whose friendship with Beethoven leads to a groundbreaking musical collaboration. As they navigate the complexities of race, identity, and artistic ambition, the narrative delves into themes of love, betrayal, and the pursuit of greatness. The rich historical context and the emotional depth of the characters create a compelling tale of resilience and creativity in a time of societal change.
N'en déplaise à l'ingrate postérité, la célèbre Sonate à Kreutzer n'a pas été composée pour le violoniste Rodolphe Kreutzer, qui d'ailleurs ne l'a jamais interprétée, mais pour un jeune musicien tombé dans l'oubli. Comment celui-ci est devenu l'ami auquel Beethoven a dédié l'un de ses morceaux les plus virtuoses, voilà l'histoire qui est ici racontée. Au début de l'année 1789 débarquent à Paris le violoniste prodige George Bridgetower, neuf ans, et son père, un Noir de la Barbade qui se fait passer pour un prince d'Abyssinie. Arrivant d'Autriche, où George a suivi l'enseignement de Haydn, ils sont venus chercher l'or et la gloire que devrait leur assurer le talent du garçon... De Paris à Londres, puis Vienne, ce récit d'apprentissage aussi vivant qu'érudit confronte aux bouleversements politiques et sociaux - notamment la mise en cause de l'esclavage aux colonies et l'évolution de la condition des Noirs en Europe - les transformations majeures que vit le monde des idées, de la musique et des sciences, pour éclairer les paradoxes et les accomplissements du Siècle des lumières.
