Magie noire (Les Cahiers Rouges)

by Morand-P

Huit nouvelles. Trois regions: les Antilles, l'Afrique, les Etats-Unis. Un jeune garcon qui reve de devenir le Lenine de son peuple fait un coup d'etat a Haiti. Combien de temps durera sa dictature? Une danseuse afro-americaine est initiee aux pratiques vaudous dans le Harlem des annees 1920. Survivra-t-elle? La depouille du roi d'un pays d'Afrique disparait. Une malediction? Dans ces recits ou le fantastique le dispute a l'erotisme, ou un style virtuose transfigure les mythes d'une des plus anciennes civilisations du monde, Paul Morand rend hommage au genie de la culture noire."

232 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1983

Reviews

[Covey Mcallister · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure what to think about this one…I read a 2nd edition 1929 copy with beautiful binding and drawings throughout. The stories are scattered and difficult to follow, but it is my understanding that Morand had travelled throughout Africa and Africa influenced cultures, and collected stories with some form of black magic at the center. Some of the stories like the last one from Liberia were really interesting with some forest spirit bewitching the locals and forcing them to destroy their own village and crops. But the overwhelming theme (and probably due to the racist atmosphere of the times) is that blacks are barbaric and less than…so definitely not a pleasant read but still some interesting aspects if you are interested in black magic/witchcraft.

[PATRICE PRIVAT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tants de souvenirs en terrenoire de Charleston à l'Afrique Equatoriale Française; certains récits sont fascinants.