Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed
"Mumbo Jumbo" is a satirical and unconventional novel that explores the cultural and political landscape of 1920s America. The narrative centers around an ancient virus known as "Jes Grew" which is spreading rapidly, causing people to dance, feel joy and lose their inhibitions. The protagonist, an African-American detective, is tasked with finding the text that supposedly contains the cure for this "disease". The book uses this premise to critique Western civilization and its attempts to suppress African and other non-European cultures.
The 1088th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1972
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 224
- Words
- 59,500
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 24th on 100 Best Novels in English Since 1900 (Counterpunch)
- Donald Barthelme’s Reading List (Believer Mag)
- The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993 (Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- The Great American Novels (The Atlantic)