The Greats : Grands

Guinea-Bissau, 2012. Sylvain Prudhomme re-imagines the famous '70s music group Super Mama Djombo, as seen through the eyes of Couto, the laconic guitarist. After learning of the death of the singer, Dulce-once the love of his life-Couto wanders through the capital city, from bar to bar, friend to friend. Thirty years file past in his memories: of the woman he loved, of guerillas fighting against Portuguese colonizers, and of the golden days of a legendary band that played all over the world with a sound that was new, fresh, and driven by the pride of an entire country. The tension mounts as the group frantically prepares a final concert in Dulce's honour, which must take place in just 24 hours. Little do they know, a coup d' état is about to take place, executed by Dulce's husband, Guinea-Bissau's Army Chief of Staff. Sylvain Prudhomme's The Greats, translated by award-winning wordsmith Jessica Moore, is a novel of mourning, love, and the thirst for justice that tells the story of a population who knew hope and independence but now live under the oppressive rule of an army dictatorship.--$cProvided by publisher.