"An alluring, captivating novel that whiskes you away to various global destinations, including Dakar, Paris, and Buenos Aires, earned the prestigious Goncourt prize of 2021. It's an engrossing read perfect for summertime immersion."
Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, a prominent Senegalese novelist, has made a significant impact in the literary world with his novel The Most Secret Memory of Men. The book, which won the prestigious 2021 Prix Goncourt, is a significant reference point in African literature, particularly Francophone African literature.
At the heart of The Most Secret Memory of Men is a struggling Senegalese novelist who embarks on a complex exploration of literary identity and history. The narrative delves into a shadowy maze involving literature and history through the mysterious figure of T.C. Elimane, a Senegalese writer whose 1938 novel plays a pivotal role in the story.
The novel is noted for its intricate self-examination and the prowess with which it interrogates literary and cultural legacies. It raises questions about the place of African writers in the Western literary field and delves into the contradictory expectations faced by authors in the editorial world.
The novel is deeply embedded within the African intellectual and cultural discourse. It was co-published by Jimsaan, a publishing house founded by intellectuals including Felwine Sarr, who actively foster new African intellectuals and promote African creative works. Mohamed Mbougar Sarr’s novel is both a reflection and critique of African literary history, identity, and its place in the global narrative, making it an important cultural work for understanding contemporary African thought and its editorial dynamics.
Felwine Sarr, a key figure in African philosophy and co-founder of Jimsaan, has been involved in broader debates on African heritage and intellectual production. This situates The Most Secret Memory of Men within a wider movement focused on reclaiming and renewing African voices in literature and publishing.
While the novel does not provide specific details about the vanished author that the narrator is searching for, it was inspired by the tragic fate of Yambo Ouologuem, a Malian writer who was accused of plagiarism and removed from the literary scene.
The narrator, Diegane Latyr Faye, embarks on an obsessive literary investigation, traveling from Parisian salons to the streets of Dakar, via Buenos Aires and Amsterdam. The novel impresses with its choral structure, featuring testimonials, letters, notebooks, and extracts from articles. Its structure can be described as a true narrative patchwork.
Critics have praised the novel upon its August 2021 release, with Marianne Payot in L'Express describing it as "a great book, a gem of craftsmanship that enchants, transports, and haunts you." Camille Laurens in Le Monde considered it one of the most accomplished novels of the literary season.
In summary, Mohamed Mbougar Sarr's The Most Secret Memory of Men is a significant work that explores African literary history, identity, and the complexities of literary creation. The novel is not only a contemporary literary work but also a part of African editorial efforts to foster indigenous intellectual and creative expression.
Traveling through various cities such as Paris, Dakar, Buenos Aires, and Amsterdam, the narrator Diegane Latyr Faye immerses himself in a literary investigation, seeking to uncover the truth about a vanished author. In his quest, he incorporates various forms of entertainment, including books and discussions, to further delve into African literary history and lifestyle. This travel and exploration of literature, reflecting Senegalese author Mohamed Mbougar Sarr's novel, not only become a part of contemporary African thought but also contributes to the broader movement aimed at reclaiming and renewing African voices in the global literary field and publishing, providing a glimpse into the intricacies and complexity of in-flights African narratives and the cultural landscape they symbolize.
