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Explosion in a Cathedral
Explosion in a Cathedral: A Novel | Alejo Carpentier
3 posts | 2 read | 6 to read
A swashbuckling tale set in the Caribbean at the time of the French Revolution, Explosion in a Cathedral focuses on Victor Hugues, a historical figure who led the naval assault to take back the island of Guadeloupe from the English at the beginning of the nineteenth century. In Carpentier's telling, this piratical character walks into the lives of the wealthy orphans Esteban and Sofia and casts them abruptly into the midst of the immense changes sweeping the world outside their Havana mansion.
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Currey
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#readaroundtheworld #cuba Quite an amazing book that echoes the title. It is an explosion of revolutionary forces from adolescent independence to slave and native people uprising against their colonial overlords. It has a lengthy middle section on privateers and ends with what independence for women may look like. The characters are rich if constantly shape shifting (in a literal sense) and some how it does tie together with poetic language.

rockpools This sounds amazing- was it very hard going? 7y
Currey @RachelO Yes, it was not an easy read at all 7y
rockpools Thanks. Next time I'm up for a challenge... 7y
7 likes3 comments
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Currey
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#readaroundtheworld #cuba I had no idea the French Revolution freed the slaves in their colonies. This book is a bit like multiple books in one. The first part is all about orphaned young adolescents constructing a life without adults. Now I am in France participating in the Revolution and we are just headed back to the Caribbean....

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Currey
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#readaroundtheworld This has been a difficult book to sink into. The author assumes you know and understand what countries colonized which islands in the Caribbean. He assumes you know what islands the main cities are on, like I would read London and not need to be told it is in England. He assumes you know the key players and general trajectory of the French Revolution both in France and globally. Plus there are Hurricanes! I'm learning.