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Thank you. A quick search of Amazon says all his books are in French, mostly very expensive (even used). If I were to get one to read in French (bearing in mind that it would be slow, with my dictionary close at hand), which would you recommend?
by Mnemosyne on Thu Oct 9th, 2008 at 02:06:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I suggest to start with "Désert". It's a wonderful novel.

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char
by Melanchthon on Thu Oct 9th, 2008 at 02:21:54 PM EST
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Also "Le chercheur d'or" (based on his family's history in Mauritius) is a good pick. Also, "Onitsha" (based on his father's work as a doctor in Nigeria).

Seems like very few of his novels have been translated to English; maybe this will change after the Nobel...

His Wikipedia entry is quite complete, although it's missing its latest novel "Ritournelle de la faim", published earlier this year.

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.

by Bernard on Thu Oct 9th, 2008 at 03:43:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Thank you. I checked in at the local Borders tonight, and they have some things listed, although nothing in stock. The reference desk man said he thought there would soon be reprints available, given the award.

Because the titles are often changed when a translation is published, I couldn't tell for sure if one of the two I was looking for was already in English.

I'll keep looking. Perhaps I can get two copies, one in French and another in English to help me along.

I know a tiny bit about Mauritius, so that one might be an interesting read.

by Mnemosyne on Thu Oct 9th, 2008 at 11:05:41 PM EST
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Looks like they have some paperbacks and used copies at more decent prices on barnesandnoble.com, including  Onitsha, Wandering Star {Etoile Errante) and The Round and Other Cold Hard Facts (La Ronde et autres faits divers).

The Prospector (Le chercheur d'or) is on powells.com, but on backorder.

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.

by Bernard on Thu Oct 9th, 2008 at 04:05:13 PM EST
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