About the book
‘A great novel ... bone-chilling black satire … it deserves many readings’ New York Times
A mock epic of explosive power, Bound to Violence races through the history of the imaginary African kingdom of Nakem, from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. Recounting the bloody adventures of successive inglorious dynasties, the arrival of white exploiters and the fates of ordinary, endlessly persecuted citizens – most notably the tragicomic, Paris-educated hero Raymond-Spartacus Kassoumi – this iconoclastic, outrageous 1968 novel takes a wry, sideways look at empire and nationalism, and at the sex, violence and power that run through human relationships.
‘A startling energy of language’ John Updike, New Yorker
Translated by Ralph Manheim
With an Introduction by Chérif Keïta
Editions of Bound to Violence
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780241680803
- EBook
- ISBN 9781802064865
Read an Excerpt
‘A great novel ... bone-chilling black satire … it deserves many readings’ New York Times
A mock epic of explosive power, Bound to Violence races through the history of the imaginary African kingdom of Nakem, from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. Recounting the bloody adventures of successive inglorious dynasties, the arrival of white exploiters and the fates of ordinary, endlessly persecuted citizens – most notably the tragicomic, Paris-educated hero Raymond-Spartacus Kassoumi – this iconoclastic, outrageous 1968 novel takes a wry, sideways look at empire and nationalism, and at the sex, violence and power that run through human relationships.
‘A startling energy of language’ John Updike, New Yorker
Translated by Ralph Manheim
With an Introduction by Chérif Keïta
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bound to Violence about?
‘A great novel ... bone-chilling black satire … it deserves many readings’ New York Times
A mock epic of explosive power, Bound to Violence races through the history of the imaginary African kingdom of Nakem, from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. Recounting the bloody adventures of successive inglorious dynasties, the arrival of white exploiters and the fates of ordinary, endlessly persecuted citizens – most notably the tragicomic, Paris-educated hero Raymond-Spartacus Kassoumi – this iconoclastic, outrageous 1968 novel takes a wry, sideways look at empire and nationalism, and at the sex, violence and power that run through human relationships.
‘A startling energy of language’ John Updike, New Yorker
Translated by Ralph Manheim
With an Introduction by Chérif Keïta
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Bound to Violence?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Classic fiction: literary and general
Where can I read a sample of Bound to Violence?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241680803
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Bound to Violence?
Yambo Ouologuem
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Bound to Violence is available as paperback(ISBN 9780241680803) and ebook(ISBN 9781802064865)
Where can I buy Bound to Violence online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Bound to Violence from below
Where can I buy Bound to Violence?