The novel is set in Luanda, on the eve of, and during the immediate aftermath of Angola's independence from Portugal. For instance, it is revealed over the course of the narrative that Little Chief’s pigeon ingested diamonds when it was lured onto Ludo’s balcony by their sparkle. “Ludovica never liked having to face the sky” (11). Ludo reflects upon the creative potential of such lexical transformation when she considers the Portuguese name for pomegranates: “I even like the Portuguese word for them – romã – the morning glimmer it has to it.” While the real life Ludo did not speak English, she did become alienated from her native tongue during the revolutionary war. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. December 15, 2015. A General Theory of Oblivion concerns the life of an agoraphobic Portuguese woman Ludo (short for Ludovica) who moves to Angola with her sister and Angolan husband. AiW extends our warmest solidarity to all our communities at this time. Agualusa creates a rich, moving tale in A General Theory of Oblivion, where people, objects, and memories circulate and collide, and where nothing is ever quite as it seems. A General Theory of Oblivion tells the real life story of Ludovica Fernandes Mano, a Portuguese woman who spent most of her life in Luanda, Angola. Buy Now. Paperback. A General Theory of Oblivion tells the real life story of Ludovica Fernandes Mano, a Portuguese woman who spent most of her life in Luanda, Angola. A GENERAL THEORY OF OBLIVION focuses primarily on Ludo, but it also looks at several different characters that she has ties to. At one point, Agualusa gives Ludo a poetic voice with which to explore her solitude: Titled “Exorcism,” this verse casts language as both a curse and a blessing for Ludo, who survives her ordeal because she carves into language for release rather than her own flesh, enacting a metaphorical transaction which liberates her voice even as it perpetuates her imprisonment. Nov 21, 2019 - A General Theory Of Oblivion #quotesgenres #readtheory #modernisminliterature #literarytheory #literarycriticismtheories Working in the fertile ground between fiction, philosophy, and enchantment, Agualusa has … These are told in a factual way, similar to news reports. Annemarie Jacir: The Oblivion Theory is set in Palestine and follows the story of Ludo, an agoraphobic New Yorker, who happens to find herself in Gaza at the outbreak of the First Intifada. As Ludo puts it at the book’s close: “Monsters, show me the monsters: these people out on the street. The language is relaxed and the details vivid. A General Theory of Oblivion. In Angola’s independence and the end of … The award was eventually given to The Vegetarian. The novel’s short chapters move at a rapid pace, with Ludo’s diary entries serving as occasional reprieves. [15] In accordance with the rules of the award, Agualusa and Hahn will share the award along a 75%:25% split respectively. A General Theory of Oblivion (Portuguese: Teoria Geral do Esquecimento) is a 2013 novel by Angolan author José Eduardo Agualusa. A General Theory of Oblivion The brilliant new novel from the winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. Building a wall to block the doorway, she begins an eccentric life of deprivation and diaristic creation that spans nearly thirty years. His non-fiction books include a series of reading guides for children and brief biographies of the poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Percy Bysshe Shelley. [7][8] The war for independence has left the area in a tumultuous and dangerous state, having raged for over twelve years. Ludo used the diamonds as bait, but set the pigeon free after finding a love note attached to its leg: a note sent by the lover of the very police officer who first imprisoned Little Chief. This occurs just before the revolution in 1975 in which the country gained independence from Portugal. This occurs just before the revolution in 1975 in which the country gained independence from Portugal. Archipelago. Up now, we have a Q&A with Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (@abubakarwrites) by @uniofexeter students Yasmine Arasteh, Skye Frewin & Sally Wright. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The book’s title comes from something the fictional Ludo writes: “If I still had the space, charcoal, and available walls, I could compose a great work about forgetting: a general theory of oblivion.” But the book might also have been named for one of the chapters, “The Subtle Architecture of Chance,” because at the heart of this story is the concept that chance choreographs so much of what our lives become. Change ). “A General Theory of Oblivion is both more and less than its title; it certainly provides a kind of blueprint of the encroaching obscurity inherent to living and dying—at times bemoaning its certainty, at times celebrating the assured darkness—but it is also a general theory of love, of life, and, finally, of literature. It is simply a general reading on the missing links of Spencer’s theory of evolution. [1] The book is based on real-life events. This situation is changed when she encounters Sabalu, a young boy who attempts to burgle her apartment. A General Theory of Oblivion (Harvill Secker, 2015) was written by José Eduardo Agualusa, an Angolan journalist and writer. A General Theory of Oblivion is a mosaic of perfectly elaborate and wild novels, which plays with love for storytelling and fable. The novel recounts the story of a Portuguese woman who locks herself into her apartment with Angola on the brink of independence. We use cookies for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to analyse how our Sites are used. 0 Save. A General Theory of Oblivion. A General Theory of Oblivion—translated from the Portuguese by Daniel Hahn—features Ludo, a Portuguese exile who secludes herself in her missing brother-in-law and sister’s apartment on the eve of Angola’s independence. The novel marked the continuation of Hahn's long collaboration with Agualusa. A General Theory of Oblivion -- translated from the Portuguese by Daniel Hahn -- features Ludo, a Portuguese exile who secludes herself in her missing brother-in-law and sister's apartment on the eve of Angola's independence. by Daniel Hahn. Novel by Angolan author José Eduardo Agualusa. The narrative is framed by Ludo’s remarkable decision to brick herself into her apartment shortly after guerrilla forces liberated Angola from Portuguese colonial rule. He won the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in 2007 for his translation of José Eduardo Agualusa’s The Book of Chameleons. Home › Reviews - Books › Review: A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa, By AFRICA IN WORDS GUEST on 12 May , 2016 • ( 0 ). Read it for. Independence was declared in 1975, but the struggle led to a long period of … A General Theory of Oblivion relates the story of Ludo, who at the beginning of Angola's civil unrest, literally barricades herself into her apartment (by building a wall) and stays there for 30 years. When Agualusa describes a trauma in Ludovica’s past, he suggests parallels between her agoraphobia and Angola’s colonisation by Portugal. Daniel Hahn is a British writer, editor, and the translator of A General Theory of Oblivion from the Portuguese. For the next 30 years she lives off vegetables and pigeons, and burns her furniture to stay warm. A General Theory of Oblivion. She lives off vegetables and pigeons, burns her furniture and books to stay alive and keeps herself busy by writing her story on the walls of her home. Tags: a general theory of oblivion, Jose Eduardo Agualusa, Man Booker International Prize 2016 This entry was posted on March 31, 2016 at 6:36 pm and is filed under Jose Eduardo Agualusa, Man Booker International Prize 2016.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. By the end, we can see how the strands … His many works of fiction have been translated into twenty-five languages. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. An exiled Portuguese woman bricks herself into her apartment on the eve of Angolan independence In the face of mounting anarchy and looting, as well as the disappearance of her sister and brother in law, she shuts herself … Agualusa studied agronomy and silviculture in Lisbon, Portugal. [3], The novel appeared on the short-list for the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, losing to The Vegetarian. Ft. extracts from the collection and info about an upcoming ACCUTE event. Learn how your comment data is processed. A General Theory of Oblivion (Portuguese: Teoria Geral do Esquecimento) is a 2013 novel by Angolan author José Eduardo Agualusa. Shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize 2016. We are eagerly awaiting the official English-language release of Véronique Tadjo's (@veroniquetadjo) In the Company of Men this Thursday 15th April by @hoperoadpublishing. Through a comparative analysis of portrayals of the war in literature, art, film and photography, he considers the effect of international institutions on the production of these works, and the impact of the conflict on Nigerian cultural memory and artistic innovation. There are a lot of characters … All are welcome. She attempts to cut herself off from the external world for three decades until she meets a young boy who informs her of the radical changes which have occurred in the country in the intervening years. This occurs just before the revolution in 1975 in which the country gained independence from Portugal. Celebrating #WorldPoetryDay, @ndukaotiono & @uche_peter_umez share news of the African release of poetry anthology Wreaths For A Wayfarer (@narrativelscape). Each new chapter adds a further layer of narrative and meaning that both resonates with what has come before and unexpectedly reconfigures it, creating a shifting, organic tale. His wider research interests are in anglophone African literature, postcolonial conflict literature, gender and sexual dissidence, and world literary book history. A GENERAL THEORY OF OBLIVION by José Eduardo Agualusa ; translated by Daniel Hahn ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 15, 2015 The Angolan writer’s fifth novel to receive an English translation, a look at the upheaval caused by the Angolan civil war, places a recluse at its heart. [11], Critics praised Agualusa for his subject matter, stating that he was responsible for opening up "the world of Portuguese-speaking Africa to the English-speaking community. Working in the fertile ground between fiction, philosophy, and enchantment, Agualusa has … She incinerates her furniture to provide heat. A General Theory of Oblivion concerns the life of an agoraphobic Portuguese woman Ludo (short for Ludovica) who moves to Angola with her sister and Angolan husband. Publisher. A powerful sense of history is woven throughout this teasing text, which is also entwined with the stories of a host of other characters: from Jeremias Carrasco, the Portuguese mercenary who survives summary execution by Angolan freedom fighters and begins a second life among the nomadic Mucubal people; to Little Chief, a political prisoner who discovers diamonds in the carcass of a roasted pigeon; and a host of non-human animals, such as Phantom the albino Alsatian and Fofo the performing pygmy hippo. SHORTLISTED … Books like A General Theory Of Oblivion book by José Eduardo Agualusa. It is one of the best seller books in this month. This is the work of a seasoned novelist, deftly translated from Portuguese by the prominent British translator Daniel Hahn. At one point, Ludo thinks she has gone mad when she sees Fofo the hippo on a neighbour’s veranda, and describes the experience of reading with failing sight: “I get things wrong, as I read, and in those mistakes, sometimes, I find incredible things that are right.” The reader is also involved in this process of interpretation and invention, being challenged at one point to think of a better word than “heart” to explain a person’s deepest desires. They discuss all things Dreams and Assorted Nightmares, liminal spaces, the history of Nigeria, @masobebooks, and more! Fiction Historical Literary. 0 Meh. Avaliable format in PDF, EPUB, MOBI, KINDLE, E-BOOK and AUDIOBOOK. In the midst of all the violence and chaos caused by the anti-colonial movement's clashes with Portuguese authorities, she decides to isolate herself from society by bricking herself into her penthouse apartment. Make sure you catch up on the latest African literary and cultural news from March in our wrap! and more…). The novel was the recipient of the 2017 International Dublin Literary Award,[4][5] one of the largest literary prizes in the world, with a prize of €100,000.[6]. My people.”. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Our #QuoteOfTheDay comes from Abubakar Adam Ibrahim speaking to @exeteruni students this week about writing, history, and Nigeria. In the face of mounting anarchy and looting, as well as the disappearance of her sister and brother in law, she shuts herself … In A General Theory of Oblivion, José Eduardo Agualusa presents us with the beehive of Luanda and its recent history. For the next 30 years she lives off vegetables … Books like. On the eve of Angolan independence, Ludo bricks herself into her apartment, where she will remain for the next thirty years. Buy From a Local Bookstore. The only information that she receives about the outside world and the political situation it faces comes from news reports on the radio, or the conversations of neighbours which she overhears.[1]. [16] Agualusa stated that he intended to use part of the reward to "realise a life-long dream" and construct a public library on the Island of Mozambique, his adopted home. "[12] He attracted further critical praise for the manner in which he condensed a cryptic and complicated conflict into a "succinctly summarised and easily understandable" package. 198 x 130 mm. Add to list See details. Enter your email address to follow this blog for our latest posts by email. Book Condition: New. It is the story of a community of souls struggling to stay rooted even as legacies of violence threaten to tear them apart. Indeed, Agualusa renders Ludo’s life as inextricably tied, but never reduced, to Luanda’s peoples and topography, and to the legacies of violence and colonialism that continue to influence its development today. The collection is edited by Otiono & Umezurike & published to honour the memory of writer, academic, & mentor, Pius Adesanmi. In the face of mounting anarchy and looting, as well as the disappearance of her sister and brother in law, she shuts herself … His doctoral research explores the cultural legacy of the Nigerian Civil War in different forms of material culture. José Eduardo Agualusa, Trans. With the brand, humour and warmth characteristic of the author, A General Theory of Oblivion is a captivating novel about human drama and the emotions, hopes and dangers of radical change. Link to the interview is in our bio ✒️, The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell is #CurrentlyOnOurBedside... Have you read it? It competed under the Prize's revised rules, which place a greater emphasis on translated works. Thus, her struggle with emotional isolation and cultural alienation in the text is itself a process of translation. The story is told from her perspective over the span of 30 years. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Vintage Publishing, United Kingdom, 2016. She provides sustenance for herself by growing vegetables and luring pigeons into the apartment through a window. Link in our bio! Book Detail: Category: Book Binding: Paperback Author: Jose Eduardo Agualusa Number of Pages: 194 Amazon.com Price : $15.18 … Tags: A General Theory of Oblivion, Angola', colonial and postcolonial history, cultural memory, Daniel Hahn, Jose Eduardo Agualusa, life writing, Luanda, Matthew Lecznar, Tamara Moellenberg, translation. Link is in our bio to read , Call for Submissions: Saraba Magazine, Issue 19 “Power” and 20 “Money”, Deadline: 15 May 2016, Event: An eye for the “other”: Representations of alterity in contemporary postcolonial “texts”, 18 May 2016, London. Brand New Book. Daniel Hahn, book review. This could theoretically be a total disaster. A General Theory of Oblivion is a wild patchwork of a novel that tells the story of Angola through Ludo, a woman who bricks herself into her apartment on the eve of Angolan independence. She does learn to love the language again, and ultimately embraces the world beyond her apartment by choosing life over oblivion. In a series of moving snapshots, Tadjo illustrates the terrible extent of the Ebola epidemic. For an American reader with a hazy understanding of Angolan cultural context, the novel provides an … ( Log Out /  Matthew Lecznar is a PhD student at the University of Sussex. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Drawing on real accounts of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, this poignant, timely fable reflects on both the strength and the fragility of life and humanity’s place in the world. Beginning with the extraordinary premise of a Portuguese woman who bricks herself into her apartment on the eve of Angolan independence, the novel gradually introduces character after character, their stories tessellating in unexpected ways. Discover the world's research. An explanatory note tells readers that A General Theory of Oblivion grew out of Agualusa’s efforts to write the screenplay for a feature film based on Ludovica’s story. Despite its somber title and theme, A General Theory of Oblivion reads like a thriller. Daniel", "Angolan writer José Eduardo Agualusa wins €100,000 International Dublin literary award", "International Dublin Literary Award 2017: José Eduardo Agualusa wins for A General Theory of Oblivion — Independent.ie", "José Eduardo Agualusa wins €100,000 International Dublin Literary Award", "A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa – Archipelago", "A General Theory of Oblivion by Jose Eduardo Agualusa – Quarterly Conversation", "Book review: A General Theory Of Oblivion", "Spare My Wrists : Review of A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa --- Jeff Bursey", "The Vegetarian wins the Man Booker International Prize 2016 – The Man Booker Prizes", "Angolan novelist wins Dublin Literary Award – Features – Book News – Hot Press", "Angolan writer José Eduardo Agualusa wins 2017 International DUBLIN Literary Award", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_General_Theory_of_Oblivion&oldid=981792555, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 4 October 2020, at 13:05. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Please be in touch with any proposals, ideas or info as to how we can best support, reconnect and/or reimagine our spaces (reviews, news of digital events and conversations, Q&As, any other weird and wonderfuls, etc. [4], "A General Theory Of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa; trans. A General Theory Of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa; trans. A General Theory of Oblivion (Portuguese: Teoria Geral do Esquecimento) is a 2013 novel by Angolan author José Eduardo Agualusa. The narrative is framed by Ludo’s remarkable decision to brick herself into her apartment shortly after guerrilla forces liberated Angola from Portuguese colonial rule.

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