Palmares

In Palmares, Gayl Jones creates a vivid portrayal of 17th-century colonial Brazil, filled with unforgettable characters, reimagined historical events, and a blend of mythology and magic. The novel, a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist, explores the concept of a hidden settlement where fugitive slaves can live free, and the price paid for freedom.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 512 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

A Literary Masterpiece: Palmares

Palmares, a captivating novel by Gayl Jones, has been recognized as a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist and is also longlisted for the prestigious Rathbones Folio Prize. This extraordinary work of literature is described as a once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece that profoundly alters one's perception of the world. The novel is brimming with rich characters, intricate incidents, and a magical and mysterious atmosphere.

The Sunday Times praises Palmares for its "astonishingly rich in character and incident, filled with magic and mystery." The author's intricate storytelling and mesmerizing narrative style keep readers engaged and captivated from start to finish. Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, describes the novel as "intricate, mesmerizing, and endlessly inventive and subversive." She praises Jones's exceptional skill in weaving a story with extraordinary complexity, depth, and finesse.

Robert Jones, Jr., author of The Prophets, praises Palmares as an "epic tale of love and liberation set in seventeenth-century colonial Brazil." The novel transports readers to a world of plantations, slaves, and the quest for freedom. Almeyda, a young slave girl, hears whispers of a hidden settlement called Palmares, where fugitive slaves live free. Jones masterfully weaves together historical events, mythology, and magic to create a sweeping saga that spans a quarter of a century.

In Palmares, Gayl Jones showcases her remarkable talent for reckoning with both history and interiority. She skillfully collapses the boundary between these two realms, creating a novel that feels both historically accurate and deeply personal. The New Yorker praises Jones for her "great achievement," noting that she is able to "reckon with both history and interiority, and to collapse the boundary between them." Palmares is a testament to this gift, offering a unique and immersive experience that blurs the lines between reality and imagination.

With its unforgettable characters, reimagined historical events, and fusion of mythology and magic, Palmares stands as a groundbreaking work of literature. It is a testament to Gayl Jones's exceptional talent and her ability to create a narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking. Whether you are a fan of historical fiction or simply seek a novel that challenges your perspective, Palmares is a must-read that will leave a lasting impression.

Weight: 396g
Dimension: 126 x 197 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780349015248