Bakhita: A Novel of the Saint of Sudan

(Hardback)

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Inspired by the true story of a former slave who became a saint, this poignant novel explores how a human being can survive the obliteration of her identity, and how kindness and generosity can be born out of profound trauma. She recalls little of her childhood, not even her own name. She was barely seven years old when she was snatched by slave raiders from her village in the Darfur region of southern Sudan. In a cruel twist, they gave her the name that she will carry for the rest of her life- Bakhita, "the Lucky One" in Arabic. Sold and resold along the slave trade routes, Bakhita endures years of unspeakable abuse and terror. At age thirteen, at last, her life takes a turn when the Italian consul in Khartoum purchases her. A few years later, as chaos engulfs the capital, the consul returns to Italy, taking Bakhita with him. In this new land, another long and arduous journey begins--one that leads her onto a spiritual path for which she is still revered today. With rich, evocative language, Veronique Olmi immerses the reader in Bakhita's world--her unfathomable resilience, her stubborn desire to live, and her ability to turn toward the pain of others in spite of the terrible sufferings that she too must endure.

Reviews

Affectinga sincere and serious rendering of Bakhitas lifethat emphasizes the profundity of [her] personal presence, even powerBakhitas brutal story is also a story full of wonder. New York Times

Bakhitas story, and the authors gripping wordplay, convey the unspeakable brutality of slavery and one womans irrepressible will to live. Publishers Weekly

Olmis tale provides a glimpse into [Bakhitas] interior life, revealing the woman within the saint. Booklist

Beautifully writtena clear-headed and insightful reimagining of an extraordinary lifegripping. NB

I was enthralled and moved by Olmis account of Bakhitas life. This spare and sensuous novel isunflinching, yet not exploitative. Everyone should read this book. Therese Anne Fowler,New York Timesbestselling author ofA Well-Behaved WomanandZ

A powerful, captivating story. Marek Halter, author ofSarah

Intimate in tone, epic in scope,Bakhitatells the moving story of one womans trajectory from bondage to faith and healing. Mitchell James Kaplan, author ofBy Fire, By Water

PoignantOlmi enters into this character with empathy but without excessive pathos. Le Figaro

Author Bio

Veronique Olmi is an actor, playwright, and stage director, who has written several novels including the critically acclaimed Bords de mer and Cet ete-l , for which she received the Prix des maisons de la presse in 2011. She has also published two plays Une separation and Un autre que moi. Adriana Hunter studied French and Drama at the University of London. She has translated more than fifty books including Camille Laurens's Who You Think I Am and Herve Le Tellier's Electrico W, winner of the French-American Foundation's 2013 Translation Prize in Fiction. She lives in Kent, England.