Transparent City

A gripping portrait of contemporary urban Africa—by turns magic realist, deeply emotional, and savagely satirical.

---

"Ondjaki delivers playful magical realism with delightful defiance." —The Barnes & Noble Review

"As with Ondjaki's other novels—including Bom dis camaradas (2001; Good Morning Comrades) and Os Transparentes (2012)—this is a strangely deceptive read. Although the narrative often feels rather whimsical, Angola's long history of colonialism and conflict, its various foreign allies and enemies, and the extraordinary suffering of its population, are menacingly present . . . a brave and highly political work."—Times Literary Supplement


"Remarkable . . . at once a coming-of-age novel, rousing adventure, and lyrical experiment. . . . It is no surprise that this energetic and endearing novel is the work of a writer of such stunning accomplishment as Ondjaki. . . . The result is ebullient, cinematic, and downright magical."—Words Without Borders

In a crumbling apartment block in Luanda, impoverished families hoard memories to survive a corrupt regime. Odonato—nostalgic for the days of socialism—searches for his son, a petty criminal. As his hope drains away, Odonato's flesh becomes transparent and his body increasingly weightless. A captivating blend of magical realism, scathing political satire, and literary experimentation, Slow Red confirms Ondjaki as one of Africa's major writers.

Ondjaki is a writer and filmmaker whose novels and stories have been translated into English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian. He lives in Luanda, Angola.

Stephen Henighan is a writer and translator. He teaches at the University of Guelph, Ontario.