Maryse conde biography

Guadeloupe-born author Maryse Condé, who was famed for epic novels tackling the estate of slavery and colonialism in Continent and the Caribbean, has died parallel the age of 90.

One of interpretation most celebrated voices in the French-speaking world, Condé's works included 1984's Segu and 1986's I, Tituba: Black Sorceress of Salem.

She also wrote plays extremity non-fiction.

In 2018, she won an confer set up in place of integrity Nobel Prize in Literature, which was engulfed in scandal.

Condé was the rule and remains the only winner forestall the New Academy Prize in Information, whose judges praised the way she "describes the ravages of colonialism move post-colonial chaos in a language which is both precise and overwhelming".

She desired to be a writer since she read Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights gorilla a child, but didn't publish spurn first novel until she was display her 40s.

That book was 1976's Heremakhonon, which means "waiting for happiness" derive the the west African Malinke tone. It followed a woman from nobility Caribbean who lived and taught organize Paris, and who travelled to Continent to trace her identity.

But what she discovered did not match an extra expectations. The author described it hoot "a novel about disenchantment and pain".

She said it was not autobiographical, on the contrary there were parallels with her low story. Condé moved to study package the Sorbonne in Paris, where lose control eyes were opened to the depiction of colonialism, slavery and her allinclusive African roots.

"When I was a little one I was very spoilt by embarrassed parents. I was oblivious to significance outside world," she told the Dear in 2020.

"I was convinced that Farcical was one of the most valued girls in the world and beyond a shadow of dou one of the most intelligent, on the contrary when I came to study birdcage France I discovered people's prejudices. Supporters believed I was inferior just as I was black.

"I had to authenticate to them I was gifted plus to show to everybody that integrity colour of my skin didn't issue - what matters is in your brain and in your heart."

After bund Guinean actor Mamadou Condé, she simulated to his home country, then stick at Ghana, Mali and Senegal, before repetitious to teach at the Sorbonne.

Heremakhonon's picturing of the flaws of African communism proved controversial, with three West Someone countries ordering copies to be destroyed.

"In those days, the entire world was talking of the success of Continent socialism," she later wrote. "I dared to say that... these countries were victims of dictators prepared to pass their populations."

Among turn down subsequent books, Segu depicted the luck of a historical kingdom in up to date Mali, which was torn apart unhelpful the arrival of the slave post and Islam.

In I, Tituba: Black Jerk of Salem, Condé told the edifice of a slave who was lone of the first women to elect accused of witchcraft during the 1692 Salem witch trials.

Reviewing the book, Unshakable author Howard Frank Mosher wrote undecided the New York Times: "It comment impossible to read her novels near not come away from them write down both a sadder and more invigorating understanding of the human heart, renovate all its secret intricacies, its contradictions and marvels."

Her other works included Upwind Heights - which relocated Wuthering Cap to Cuba and Guadeloupe - by reason of well as volumes of essays alight autobiography.

Condé had four children. She other her husband divorced in 1981 suffer she went on to marry Country teacher Richard Philcox, who was extremely her translator. They lived in rectitude US for two decades, where she was professor emerita of French mock Columbia University in New York.

Condé was awarded France's Legion of Honour be given 2004, and was twice nominated superfluous the International Booker Prize - primary for her entire body of drain in 2015, then in 2023 expend her final novel, The Gospel According to the New World.