The epic rendering of a Black woman’s journey through slavery
and liberation, set in 17th-century colonial Brazil; the return of a
major voice in American literature.
First discovered and
edited by Toni Morrison, Gayl Jones has been described as one of the
great literary writers of the 20th century. Now, for the first time
in over 20 years, Jones is ready to publish again. Palmares is
the first of five new works by Gayl Jones to be published in the next
two years, rewarding longtime fans and bringing her talent to a new
generation of readers.
Intricate and
compelling, Palmares recounts the journey of Almeyda, a Black
slave girl who comes of age on Portuguese plantations and escapes to
a fugitive slave settlement called Palmares.
Following its destruction, Almeyda embarks on a journey across
colonial Brazil to find her husband, lost in battle.
Her story brings to
life a world impacted by greed, conquest, and colonial desire. She
encounters a mad lexicographer, desperate to avoid military service;
a village that praises a god living in a nearby cave; and a medicine
woman who offers great magic, at a greater price.
Combining the
author’s mastery of language and voice with her unique brand of
mythology and magical realism, Jones reimagines the historical novel.
The result is a sweeping saga spanning a quarter century, with
vibrant settings and unforgettable characters, steeped in the rich
oral tradition of its world. Of Gayl Jones, the New Yorker noted,
“[Her] great achievement is to reckon with both history and
interiority, and to collapse the boundary between them.” Like
nothing else before it, Palmares embodies this gift.