"Revelatory . [ The Cartographer of Absences is] a mystery and a love story, an aching, dreamlike immersion into the violent absurdities and racism of Portuguese colonialism in Africa . Yet there's beauty here, too, in the writing and in the humanity of those surviving in such a world . The narrative thickens, layer upon layer, into a foreboding that feels anxiously fresh." --Carl Hoffman, The Washington Post "In its temporally fragmented structure and use of found documents, Mia Couto's newly translated novel feels like a new direction for him. It's also an intensely powerful work about revolution, compromise, and long-buried secrets--one that both explores Mozambique's troubled colonial history and raises big questions about ideals and sacrifice. A haunting, compelling book." --Tobias Carroll, Words Without Borders "In the rich latest from Couto, a poet reckons with the colonial history of Mozambique .

Revelations of murder and suicide shade the final act, which is made all the more gripping by a cyclone bearing down on the country. This packs a punch." -- Publishers Weekly "Couto's storytelling is rich, while delivering a straightforward message: 'When a regime starts arresting poets it is because that regime has lost its way' . A contemplative study of colonialism's collapse, and its enduring legacy." -- Kirkus Reviews "We finish this haunting and perceptive novel aware that memory or bearing witness might not be the only essential ingredients in coming to terms with the past." -- World Literature Today clone bearing down on the country. This packs a punch." -- Publishers Weekly "Couto's storytelling is rich, while delivering a straightforward message: 'When a regime starts arresting poets it is because that regime has lost its way' .

A contemplative study of colonialism's collapse, and its enduring legacy." -- Kirkus Reviews "We finish this haunting and perceptive novel aware that memory or bearing witness might not be the only essential ingredients in coming to terms with the past." -- World Literature Today clone bearing down on the country. This packs a punch." -- Publishers Weekly "Couto's storytelling is rich, while delivering a straightforward message: 'When a regime starts arresting poets it is because that regime has lost its way' . A contemplative study of colonialism's collapse, and its enduring legacy." -- Kirkus Reviews "We finish this haunting and perceptive novel aware that memory or bearing witness might not be the only essential ingredients in coming to terms with the past." -- World Literature Today clone bearing down on the country.

This packs a punch." -- Publishers Weekly "Couto's storytelling is rich, while delivering a straightforward message: 'When a regime starts arresting poets it is because that regime has lost its way' . A contemplative study of colonialism's collapse, and its enduring legacy." -- Kirkus Reviews "We finish this haunting and perceptive novel aware that memory or bearing witness might not be the only essential ingredients in coming to terms with the past." -- World Literature Today witness might not be the only essential ingredients in coming to terms with the past." -- World Literature Today.