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The Enigma of the Return

A journey of self-discovery and the complexities of returning home

Dany Laferrière author David Homel translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Quercus Publishing

Published:4th Oct '18

Should be back in stock very soon

The Enigma of the Return cover

This poignant narrative follows Windsor Laferrière's journey of self-discovery and the complexities of returning to Haiti after years in exile, as depicted in The Enigma of the Return.

In The Enigma of the Return, Windsor Laferrière embarks on a profound journey of self-discovery, reflecting on his life as an exile from Haiti. After living in Montreal for thirty-three years, the death of his father in New York compels him to confront the realities of his homeland. This poignant narrative captures the essence of loss, longing, and the complexities of returning to a place marked by both beauty and hardship.

As Windsor travels back to Haiti, he grapples with the stark contrasts between his life abroad and the struggles faced by those he left behind. The endemic poverty and shattered dreams serve as a backdrop to his quest for identity and purpose. It is within this challenging landscape that he finds the inspiration to reclaim his voice as a writer, weaving together threads of fiction, poetry, and autobiography.

The Enigma of the Return is a captivating exploration of the emotional and psychological nuances of exile. Through Laferrière's eloquent prose, readers are invited to reflect on themes of homesickness, resilience, and the transformative power of art. The narrative resonates with anyone who has experienced the bittersweet nature of returning to their roots, making it a timeless meditation on the human condition.

This magnificent meditation on loss and political exile looks set to become one of the great poetic statements of homesickness and return . . . I have not read such an affecting or humane book in years; it should be read by all exiles everywhere. -- Ian Thomson * Independent *
'This affecting novel investigates a man's relationship with the island he fled in his youth - Haiti - and the land in which he made a name for himself - Quebec. A meditation on loss and exile' Financial Times. * Financial Times *
'Moves fluidly between free verse and prose' Guardian. * Guardian *
'A poetic, melancholic tour de force ... a compelling, intense, stark and poignant exploration of living life as an outsider ... 'the great Haitian novel'' New Internationalist magazine. * New Internationalist magazine *
'In an age of great post-colonial migrations, this is a magnificent book' Grégoire Leménager, Nouvel Observateur. * Nouvel Observateur *
'A richly haunting novel, with prose melting into poetry' Quentin Mills-Fenn, Uptown. * Uptown *
'A tour de force of partial autobiography' GQ magazine. * GQ magazine *

ISBN: 9780857059536

Dimensions: 196mm x 128mm x 18mm

Weight: 180g

240 pages