Palmares

First discovered and edited by Toni Morrison, Gayl Jones has been described as one of the great literary writers of the twentieth century. Now, for the first time in over twenty years, sheÂ’s publishing again. 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, she embarks on a journey across colonial Brazil to find her husband, who was lost in battle. AlmeydaÂ’s story brings to life a world impacted by greed, conquest, and colonial desire. On her journey, she encounters a mad lexicographer whoÂ’s 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 an even greater price. Combining the authorÂ’s mastery of language and voice with her unique brand of mythology and magical realism, Palmares is a reimagined historical novel: a sweeping saga spanning a quarter century thatÂ’s full of vibrant settings and unforgettable characters, all of which have been steeped in the rich oral tradition of the world.