A haunting and powerful story about war-torn Africa, a mystical orphan boy, and the power of narrative to give a chaotic world order.
In the hot African night a single gunshot cracks the silence. José Antonio traces the sound to the stage of the local theatre company, where he finds Nelio, the young prophetical leader of the city's street kids, crumpled in blood. Nelio refuses to be taken to the hospital but instead tells Jose his life's story: how bandits raided his village, his daring escape, and his struggle to survive on the streets. José is irrevocably changed. He becomes the Chronicler of the Winds, revealing Nelios's magical tale to all who will listen.
In the hot African night a single gunshot cracks the silence. José Antonio traces the sound to the stage of the local theatre company, where he finds Nelio, the young prophetical leader of the city's street kids, crumpled in blood. Nelio refuses to be taken to the hospital but instead tells Jose his life's story: how bandits raided his village, his daring escape, and his struggle to survive on the streets. José is irrevocably changed. He becomes the Chronicler of the Winds, revealing Nelios's magical tale to all who will listen.
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Uniform Title:
Comédia infantil. English
Publisher:
New York : Vintage Books, 2007.
Edition:
1st Vintage Books ed.
ISBN:
9780307280442
0307280446
0307280446
Branch Call Number:
X
Characteristics:
233 p. ; 21 cm.
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Add a Commenta wonderful story told with feeling and compassion.
This is a novel about the legacy of colonialism and the dictators and chaos which follow, boy soldiers and street kids in a port city in Africa. It is a novel about storytelling and about how life can be about more than survival. Recommended.
Mankell uses Mozambique as a model for this african country where revolutionaries, bandits and the old colonial guard clash bringing horrible devastation to the villagers and city dwellers who are just trying to live their lives. Nelio is one of the street children but not typical. He is a thinker, and at 12 years old, very old in his thoughts. On his death bed he relates his story and through that story gives a message to the world. A bit of a strange read. Not at all the same style as Mankell uses in his Wallendar books.