The Most Secret Memory of Men

Captivating, precise, sensual prose. A book that will stir your emotions and make you think. A love letter to literature, this novel is already a classic and it will haunt you. -- Leïla Slimani, bestselling author of LULLABY
More than an engrossing investigation into the mysterious author of a cursed book, Sarr's magnificent novel also offers a profound reflection on the resonance of literature in our lives. -- David Diop, International Booker Prize–winning author of AT NIGHT ALL BLOOD IS BLACK
A masterpiece * The Times *
Sarr’s dizzying display of reference ... plays a witty game with French and world literature ... This effervescence is infectious and casts its charm in times nostalgic for a belief in books and the communities they create. * Times Literary Supplement *
A powerful book, crossed by an epic breath that celebrates the power of literature. -- Alain Mabanckou, author of BLACK MOSES
Thanks to translator Lara Vergnaud, English-language readers can seamlessly experience Mohamed Mbougar Sarr's pyrotechnic prose. A labyrinth of a novel, The Most Secret Memory of Men is as enthralling as it is thought-provoking. Sarr is a writer that comes along once in a lifetime. -- Eric Nguyen, author of THINGS WE LOST TO THE WATER
Sarr’s incisive critique never relents… a brilliant effort at welcoming readers into the work of an author whose career was interrupted * Guardian *
A literary quest… The style as well as the sweep is Bolañoesque: surreal metaphors, multi-page dream descriptions * Observer *
Ambitious and playful * Economist *
Funny, sharp takes on questions of identity add grit to an inventive tribute to literature's timeless potency * Mail on Sunday *