Book Club- Moi, Tituba, Sorcière

Discover Francophone Literature!

On Wednesday, November 20th at 5:30 p.m. in the library of the Alliance Française, join us to talk about the book "Moi, Tituba, Sorcière", a novel from 1986 that will transport you at the time of Salem witches, written by Maryse Condé.

With this novel, Maryse Condé won the French Grand Prix award for women's literature in 1986. In 2016, The Boston Sunday Globe  review it as "Stunning...Maryse Conde's imaginative subversion of historical records forms a critique of contemporary American society and its ingrained racism and sexism." 

The daughter of the slave Abena raped by an English sailor on board a slave ship, Tituba, born in Barbados, was initiated into the powers that be by Man Yaya, healer and spell maker. Her marriage to John Indian took her to Boston, then to the village of Salem in the service of Pastor Parris. It was in the hysterical atmosphere of this small puritanical community that the famous witch trials took place of Salem in 1692.
Maryse Condé rehabilitates her, rescues her from the oblivion to which she had been condemned and, finally, brings her back to her native country, Barbados at the time of the First slave revolts.

Please note that it is necessary to have read the book before the event.
Members can borrow the book from our library or purchase it from our partner Owl's nest. 
The minimum level required is B2, but this event is also open to Francophones. 

REGISTER HERE REGISTER HERE

If you're looking for another way to access the book, click here if you want to purchase the French audio version on Audible.

A propos de l'histoire:

Fille de l'esclave Abena violée par un marin anglais à bord d'un vaisseau négrier, Tituba, née à la Barbade, est initiée aux pouvoirs surnaturels par Man Yaya, guérisseuse et faiseuse de sorts. Son mariage avec John Indien l'entraîne à Boston, puis au village de Salem au service du pasteur Parris. C'est dans l'atmosphère hystérique de cette petite communauté puritaine qu'a lieu le célèbre procès des sorcières de Salem en 1692.
Tituba est arrêtée, oubliée dans sa prison jusqu'à l'amnistie générale qui survient deux ans plus tard. Là s'arrête l'histoire. Maryse Condé la réhabilite, l'arrache à cet oubli auquel elle avait été condamnée et, pour finir, la ramène à son pays natal, la Barbade au temps des premières révoltes d'esclaves.