Solibo Magnificent

In Fort-de-France, Martinique, it's carnival time. And as one fateful day draws to a close, and colorful group of musicians, street vendors, and hopeless disciples gather under a tamarind tree to listen to legendary bard Solibo Magnificent spin tales. Suddenly, in the middle of one raucously entertaining tale Solibo collapses. When he fails to come to, one hysterical listener runs to find a doctor, and inadvertently returns with the overly eager, sinister chief sergeant, who holds Solibo's friends under suspicion for murder.

Patrick Chamoiseau lives on Martinique. He is the writer of Texaco, Les Neuf Consciences du malfini, Chronique des Sept Misères and Solibo Magnifique. Texaco has been translated into 14 languages.