Confession of the Lioness. By Mia Couto. Translated by David Brookshaw. Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 192 pages; $25. Harvill Secker; £16.99.
MIA COUTO’S writing fuses stark and rich imagery and is steeped in the history, superstitions and political turmoil of his native Mozambique. In his latest novel, “Confession of the Lioness”, his characters—and by extension, readers—are forced to sift shaky facts and conflicting testimonies to get the full, devastating picture.
The novel comprises two alternating narratives. One follows Mariamar Mpepe in her village of Kulumani. After the horrors of Mozambique’s civil war (fighting stopped in 1992) comes new danger in the form of marauding lions. For her safety, Mariamar’s father locks her up, leaving her with little to do but reminisce about her sunny childhood with her grandfather, and about her relationship with a hunter 16 years ago.
The exploits of that hunter, Archangel “Archie” Bullseye, constitute Mr Couto’s second narrative strand. A lovesick Archie returns to Kulumani with a ragtag entourage to eliminate the lions, vowing it will be his last hunt.
As the hunting begins, Mr Couto expertly sprinkles hints as to the real source of the recent savagery. The darkest threat, it transpires, may not be lurking out in the bush but festering deep within the village. The reader...
from The Economist: Books and arts http://ift.tt/1Isq2jb
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