The Seven Solitudes of Lorsa Lopez

by Sony Labou Tansi

In the fantastical world of Nsanga-Norda, Lorsa Lopez murders his wife. It is the signal for Estina Bronzario--the Woman of Bronze--to lead the women of the area to stage a sex strike to protest the official corruption and apathy all around them. Endless crowds and carnival erase the meaning of time, but doom-laden prophecies land in the air, waiting to be fulfilled. Sony Labou Tansi's colorful novel is reminiscent of the epics of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, both in tone and lyricism.

Genres: Africa, African Literature

129 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Sony Lab'ou Tansi (5 July 1947 - 14 June 1995), born Marcel Ntsoni, was a Congolese novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and poet. Though he was only 47 when he died, Tansi remains one of the most prolific African writers and the most internationally renowned practitioner of the "New African Writing." His novel The Antipeople won the Grand Prix Littéraire d'Afrique Noire. In his later years, he ran a theatrical company in Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo.

Reviews

[Wendy Trevino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whirlwind of prose against the police.

[Daniel Polansky]

An anarchic Rabelaisian satire of modern Zaire. Magnificent. The writing is brilliant, funny and strange and powerful. The winding story of a forgotten people seeking justice in an uncaring world achieves a universal profundity far beyond political parity, speaking to the highest concerns of the human being. Really enjoyed it.

[Eidyl6 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Permet une réflexion sur le.olan politique mais aussi du statut de la femme

[Fireside · Rating 3 out of 5]

the narrative style is not for me i guess
i feel like you must have background knowledge on Congo to truly get all the metaphors and then i’d imagine it’d be a pleasant read

[Rani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting new author for me.

[Felicia Diaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is super bizarre ... dark and humorous in twisted and tribal/magical realist ways