The Gospel of the New World , the latest book by Maryse Condé, alternative Nobel Prize winner and author of I, Tituba: Black Witch of Salem , is translated by award-winning writer Natalia Borges Polesso.
On Easter night, a newborn baby, named Pascal, is left in the garden of the Ballandras, a loving couple who cultivate the most beautiful flowers in the world. Where does the baby come from? Rumor has it he is the son of a god. And what should one do if he really is the son of a god? As he grows up, Pascal sets out in search of his origins, to understand the meaning of his mission on Earth, and ends up revealing the nature of human beings and the place of gods.
The Gospel of the New World is the perfect opportunity to explore Maryse Condé's magical and politically challenging universe. Religion is a timeless theme, and this novel refreshes the gospel tradition through the lens of magical realism, a genre highly relevant in Latin American and Caribbean literature.
As with Maryse Condé's other books, this one reflects her activism, woven with beauty, vivacity, humor, and power. As she was ill, the author dictated and then corrected the text orally, constructing this book as her final appeal to the consciousness of our destiny. Her lucidity is as ruthless as her conviction: fraternity and love remain extraordinary and saving forces.
The Gospel of the New World , which arrives exclusively in Brazil, is essential reading for everyone who wants to experience a new world.
“Condé was born a storyteller.” - Publisher Weekly
"Condé describes the ravages of colonialism and postcolonial chaos in language that is both precise and captivating. His stories […] are a world where race, gender, and class are constantly transformed into new constellations." - Ann Palsson, juror for the New Academy Awards in Literature
“With The Gospel of the New World , Maryse Condé offers us a poetic and wonderful novel. A newborn left in a garden, miracles and symbols—this is a biblical story that evokes wonder and calls for optimistic times. There is no age limit to dreaming.” - Elle
"A moving, deeply human story, filled with humor. An impartial reflection on fraternity and love in the 21st century. Maryse Condé is a phenomenon." - Auourd'hui in France
"A delightful adventure! Maryse Condé has the audacity to reinvent the gospel, adapting it to her island, Guadeloupe. Her colorful, rich, and sensual prose transports us. The author's cunning allows us to get close to the life of Jesus Christ and then distance ourselves from it with the imagination and verve of a griote : it's a celebration." - La Vie
“She is part of our Black family […]. Maryse helps us see ourselves in many different ways […]. She is a force of nature, an inspiration to women […]. She gave us so much.” - Bisi Adjapon, American writer
“Maryse Condé is a treasure of the literary world, writing from the heart of the African Diaspora with splendor and a profound understanding of all humanity.” - Russell Banks, American fiction writer and poet
“Maryse Condé is the grande dame of Caribbean literature.” - NCRV Gids
