Maryse Condé
Maryse Condé is a prominent Guadeloupean author known for her works exploring the African diaspora, postcolonial subjects, and her rich use of cultural and historical themes. She has written numerous novels, essays, and plays, often focusing on the complexities of identity and culture. Her notable works include 'Segu' and 'I, Tituba: Black Witch of Salem'. Condé has received several awards for her contributions to literature, including the New Academy Prize in Literature, an alternative to the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 2018.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem
This novel is a fictionalized account of the life of Tituba, a woman of African descent who was enslaved and brought to America in the 17th century. Accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials, Tituba's story is one of survival and resilience as she navigates the brutal realities of slavery, racial prejudice, and mass hysteria. The narrative explores themes of gender, race, and power while offering a unique perspective on a notorious period in American history.
-
2. Segu
"Segu" is a historical novel that delves into the lives of the Traore family, a noble lineage within the Bambara Empire of Segu (present-day Mali) during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. As the region faces the pressures of colonialism, the slave trade, and religious upheaval from both Islam and Christianity, the family members experience profound transformations in their personal identities and loyalties. Through their diverse and often conflicting paths, the novel explores the complex interplay of social, political, and cultural forces shaping West Africa during a period of intense turmoil and change.
