A General Theory of Oblivion
  • Published: 25 June 2015
  • ISBN: 9781448191543
  • Imprint: Vintage Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 256

A General Theory of Oblivion

Formats & editions
EBook
25 Jun 2015
Paperback
30 May 2016
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The brilliant new novel from the winners of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, José Eduardo Agualusa and his translator Daniel Hahn

WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2017

A finalist for the Man Booker International Prize 2016

The brilliant new novel from the winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.

On the eve of Angolan independence, Ludo bricks herself into her apartment, where she will remain for the next thirty years. She lives off vegetables and pigeons, burns her furniture and books to stay alive and keeps herself busy by writing her story on the walls of her home.

The outside world slowly seeps into Ludo’s life through snippets on the radio, voices from next door, glimpses of a man fleeing his pursuers and a note attached to a bird’s foot. Until one day she meets Sabalu, a young boy from the street who climbs up to her terrace.
  • Published: 25 June 2015
  • ISBN: 9781448191543
  • Imprint: Vintage Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 256
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About the author

José Eduardo Agualusa

José Eduardo Agualusa was born in Huambo, Angola, and is one of the leading literary voices in Angola and the Portuguese-speaking world. His novel Creole was awarded the Portuguese Grand Prize for Literature, The Book of Chameleons won the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, and A General Theory of Oblivion won the DUBLIN Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize.

portrait photo of José Eduardo Agualusa

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Praise for A General Theory of Oblivion

The light detachment and readability of Louis de Bernières at his best, but combined with the sharp insights of JM Coetzee… Agualusa’s writing is a delight throughout

Scotsman

In the hands of a literary expert and sensitive empathist like Agualusa, Ludo’s life story is irresistible

Jane Graham, Big Issue

Agualusa has already become one of lusophone Africa's most distinctive voices. In a line that was surely included to bait book reviewers, one of the novel's characters declares: 'A man with a good story is practically a king.' If this is true, then Agualusa can count himself among the continent's new royals

Financial Times

A remarkable novel from one of Angola’s most notable storytellers

Angel Gurria-Quintana, Financial Times, Books of the year

The book is a wonderful mix of life and dramas real and imagine worlds and how someone avoids madness just in more than thirty years apart from the real world… This book shows why we maybe should be trying to get more books out of the Lusophone world.

Winstonsdad

A fascinating dark horse

Eileen Battersby, Irish Times