ondjakitransparent
2020 Longlist

Transparent City

Translated from the Portuguese by Stephen Henighan
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

In a crumbling apartment block in the Angolan city of Luanda, families work, laugh, scheme, and get by. In the middle of it all is the melancholic Odonato, nostalgic for the country of his youth and searching for his lost son. As his hope drains away and as the city outside his doors changes beyond all recognition, Odonato’s flesh becomes transparent and his body increasingly weightless.

A captivating blend of magical realism, scathing political satire, tender comedy, and literary experimentation, Transparent City offers a gripping and joyful portrait of urban Africa quite unlike any before yet published in English.

 

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Ondjaki

Ondjaki is the pen name for writer Ndalu de Almeida. He was born in Luanda, Angola and is the award-winning author of five novels, four short-story collections, numerous books of poems and stories for children. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. The Guardian named him one of its Top Five African Writers.

Ondjaki is the pen name for writer Ndalu de Almeida. He was born in Luanda, Angola and is the award-winning author of five novels, four short-story collections, numerous books of poems and stories for children. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. The Guardian named him one of its Top Five African Writers.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Stephen
Henighan

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
Angola
Original Language
Portuguese
Author
Publisher
Biblioasis
Translator
Stephen Henighan
Translation
Translated from the Portuguese by Stephen Henighan

RELATED FEATURES

Audio June 11 2024

All About Books: Katy Conneely, Dublin City FM on the 2024 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony

In her 'All About Books' podcast Katy Conneely attends the Winning Ceremony of the 2024 Dublin Literary Award on 23rd May 2024 and provides some highlights of the ceremony
Video June 5 2024

2024 Dublin Literary Award Winners Mircea Cărtărescu and Sean Cotter In Conversation

Mircea Cărtărescu and Sean Cotter, winners of the 2024 Dublin Literary Award take an in-depth look at the winning title, Solenoid with Alex Clarke as part of International Literature Festival Dublin.
Video May 31 2024

Dublin Literary Award 2024 Winner Announcements Highlights

Romanian author Mircea Cărtărescu and translator Sean Cotter have been announced as winners of the 2024 Dublin Literary Award on Thursday 23rd of May, for the novel Solenoid.
Video May 8 2024

Alexis Wright – Praiseworthy Q&A

Q&A with Alexis Wright, one of the six shortlisted authors for the 2024 Dublin Literary Award in which she discusses her passion for libraries and explores the influences behind her novel Praiseworthy

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.