Jacaranda

A bold and uncompromising book * Guardian *
Crisply translated by Sarah Ardizzone, Jacaranda is a powerful account of a country’s fragmentation, the horrific violence neighbours inflicted on neighbours and intergenerational trauma * Financial Times *
‘A nuanced exploration of conflict and the meaning of resolution. Though it is focused on Rwanda … the question of whether people can forgive and forget past wrongs is a universal one. Hope lies with the next generation.’ * The Economist *
‘There is magic in Gaël Faye’s writing. A luminous poetic quality that sheds light on History without tempering it—probing, with supreme clarity, the secrets of a country and a family. Through the beauty of his style, he speaks humanely and compassionately about the worst atrocities. This book is unforgettable.’ * Leïla Slimani *
‘A work of rare, poetic and haunting qualities, on memory, identity and justice, and the humanity that horror might beget. Memorable and utterly, captivatingly brilliant.’ * Philippe Sands *
‘A novel about time and its effects, about what it does to people, to memory, to places… .Above all a novel that speaks out against silence.’ * Le Monde *
‘A deeply felt exploration of memory, inheritance, and the possibility that something beautiful can emerge from the worst type of atrocity … populate[d] with vivid and morally complex characters.’ * Publishers Weekly *
‘An extraordinary life force emanates from these pages.’ * La Croix *

Gael Faye was born in Burundi and now lives in Rwanda. His debut novel, Small Country, received thirteen literary awards, including the Prix Goncourt des Lyceens. It has been translated into forty languages and adapted for film, theatre, and graphic novel. In 2024, his second novel, Jacaranda, was awarded the Prix Renaudot and Choix Goncourt in 28 countries.

An author, songwriter, and hip-hop artist, he has also released several music albums, including:

• Pili Pili sur un croissant au beurre (2013)
• Rythme et botanique (2017)
• Des fleurs (2018)
• Lundi méchant (2020)
• Mauve Jacaranda (2022)

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