The Last of the African Kings

Maryse Condé (Author), Richard Philcox (Translated by)

9780813951805

Hardback, published 31 July 2024

224 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.453 kg

“A provocative critique of multiculturalism and modern race relations. . . . CondÉ’s narrative, fluidly translated from the French by her husband, Richard Philcox, uses irony and humor to portray travelers moving back and forth along the historic line between Africa, the Antilles, and America, delivering a vision of the black diaspora that challenges stereotypes by celebrating individual differences.” - New York Times

The Last of the African Kings follows the wayward fortunes of a noble African family. It begins with the regal BÉhanzin, an African king who opposed French colonialism and was exiled to distant Martinique. In the course of this brilliant novel, Maryse CondÉ tells of BÉhanzin’s scattered offspring and their lives in the Caribbean and the United States. A book made up of many characters and countless stories, The Last of the African Kings skillfully intertwines the themes of exile, lost origins, memory, and hope. It is set mainly in the Americas, from the Caribbean to modern-day South Carolina, yet Africa hovers always in the background.