A Mario Conde Mystery
The brutally mutilated body of Miguel Forcade is discovered washed up on a Havana beach. Head smashed in by a baseball bat, genitals cut off by a blunt knife. Forcade was once responsible for confiscating art works from the bourgeoisie fleeing the revolution. Had he really returned from exile just to visit his ailing father?
Lieutenant Mario Conde immerses himself in Cuba's dark history, expropriations of priceless paintings now vanished without trace, corruption and old families who appear to have lost much, but not everything.
Padura evokes the disillusionment of a generation who embraced the revolutionary cause and now struggles to survive in a decaying city threatened by hurricane Felix. Yet this novel is a eulogy to Cuba, to its music and sensuality, and to the great friendships of those who chose to stay and fight for survival.
Author Information
Leonardo Padura was born in 1955 in Havana and lives in Cuba. He is a novelist, essayist, journalist and scriptwriter. Havana Black has been published in Cuba, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Germany and France.
The Translator
Peter Bush is a critically acclaimed translator from Spanish, well known for his extensive work on Juan Goytisolo. He has recently completed translations of Daniel Chavarria, Nuria Amat and Pedro de Alarcón and three of the Havana Quartet by Padura.
Other books in the series
Havana Red by Leonardo Padura
ISBN: 978-1904738-09-1
Price: £8.99 and $13.95
Havana Blue by Leonardo Padura
ISBN: PB 9781904738220
Price: £8.99 and $14.95
Havana Gold by Leonardo Padura
ISBN: 9781904738282
Price: £8.99 and $14.95
Praise for Havana Black
''The unravelling of this story, which reaches far back into Cuba's history, is overlaid with a rich smoky patina, an atmosphere that reeks of slums and riches, cigar smoke and exotic perfumes...'' The Independent
''Havana Black, by Leonardo Padura, the second Lieutenant Mario Conde novel to be translated into English, by Peter Bush, is more complex than the usual crime story set in an exotic location...'' Sunday Telegraph
Internet links
Padura-Author Interview
www.rprogreso.com/RPWeekly011002.htm
Padura-Cuba's best known novelists hold critical mirror up to their country
www.naplesnews.com/ 02/ 11/ neapolitan/ d854771a.htm
Padura-Cuban Missive
www.weeklyplanet.com/ 2001-10-04/ news3.htlm
Padura-Une voix qui grince a Cuba
www.lire.fr/ entrtien.asp/ idC=37099/ idTC=4/ idR=201idG=
Padura-Conversacion con Leonardo Padura
www.andes.missouri.edu/ andes/ Cronicas/ scpadura/ sc_padura1.html
Padura-Our man in Havana review
www.threemonkeysonline.com/ article.php?id=368
Padura-Guardian Profile
books.guardian.co.uk/ departments/ crime/ story/ 0,,1870553,00.html
