Bound to Violence
by Yambo Ouologuem
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"This critical edition of the epic 1968 Malian novel explores its enduring literary power and the plagiarism scandal that devastated its author, the first African winner of France's prestigious Renaudot Prize. An engrossing, tragic tale spanning the thirteenth to the twentieth century, Bound to Violence recounts the fate of the imaginary empire of Nakem and the dynasty of the Saïfs who reign there as devious masters. While the novel was initially praised as an insider's guide to and show more critique of African history, with its vivid descriptions of the brutality of local rulers and the slave trade, Yambo Ouologuem's biting satire goes far beyond his native land. Through the society of Nakem, he paints a universally relevant portrait of sex, violence, and power in human relationships. In this new edition of Ralph Manheim's vigorous translation, professor and award-winning documentary filmmaker Chérif Keïta provides invaluable context for the novel, whose publication in the West was mired by accusations of plagiarism, fraught with racist undertones"-- show lessTags
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Author Information
5+ Works 162 Members
Yambo Ouologuem is one of the most radical of contemporary African writers. His only published novel to date, Bound to Violence (1968), is a powerful, vituperative, and controversial assault on Islam and Arabs. It presents Islam as a vicious, destabilizing, and culturally alienating system whose unholy alliance with state power has resulted over show more the years in barbaric slave raids, the creation of male-chauvinist harems, and the ruthless exploitation of the masses and the countryside. In the novel, Ouologuem reveals a commitment to the crusade for the total decolonization of the African mind by Islam as well as Christianity. He views the two as antithetical alien religions whose dogmas inhibit African self-expression and freedom. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Bound to Violence
- Original title
- Le devoir de violence
- Alternate titles*
- De onvermijdelijkheid van geweld
- Original publication date
- 1968
- People/Characters
- Saïf ben Isaac El Héït; Raymond-Spartacus Kassoumi; Henry
- Important places
- Mali
- Dedication*
- A l'humble compagne des jours mauvais et de ceux qui furent pires.
- First words*
- Nos yeux boivent l'éclat du soleil, et, vaincus, s'étonnent de pleurer.
- Original language
- French
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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Statistics
- Members
- 150
- Popularity
- 218,876
- Rating
- (3.22)
- Languages
- 7 — Danish, Dutch, English, French, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 4
