In 2018, Diégane Latyr Faye, a young Senegalese writer, discovered a legendary book in Paris, published in 1938: Le Labyrinthe de l'inhumain (The Labyrinth of the Inhuman). The author, described at the time as the "Negro Rimbaud," disappeared without a trace after the scandal sparked by the publication of his text. Fascinated, Diégane set out on the trail of the mysterious T. C. Elimane, where he confronted the great tragedies of colonialism and the Holocaust…"
From Senegal to France via Argentina, Mohamed Mbougar Sarr tells the story of a writer fascinated by another African writer in a book entitled La plus secrète mémoire des hommes (The Most Secret Memory of Men). This work has earned him, at only 31 years of age, the most prestigious French literary award: the 2021 Prix Goncourt.
This is a symbolic prize, as Mohamed Mbougar Sarr becomes the first writer from West Africa to be chosen by the jury of the Académie Goncourt, as well as one of the youngest writers ever to receive the award.
This is the fourth novel written by the author, who was born in Senegal in 1990 and was spotted by two publishing houses for the publication of this book: the French independent publisher Philippe Rey and the Senegalese publisher Jimsaan.