Woman of the Ashes: A Novel (Sands of the Emperor, 1) - Softcover

Mia Couto, born in Beira, Mozambique, in 1955, is one of the most prominent writers in Portuguese-speaking Africa. After studying medicine and biology in Maputo, he worked as a journalist and headed several Mozambican national newspapers and magazines. The author of Confession of the Lioness, The Tuner of Silences, and Sleepwalking Land, among other books, Couto has been awarded the Camões Prize for Literature and the prestigious Neustadt International Prize for Literature, among other awards. He was also shortlisted for the 2017 International DUBLIN Literary Award and was a finalist for the Man Booker International Prize in 2015. He lives in Maputo, where he works as a biologist.

David Brookshaw is an emeritus professor at the School of Modern Languages at the University of Bristol. He has translated several other books by Couto, including Confession of the Lioness, The Tuner of Silences, A River Called Time, and Sleepwalking Land.

“An exquisite, multi-layered novel . . . David Brookshaw has captured the African and European nuances in a translation hat is poetic, agile, and so beautifully executed that it reads like an original text.” ―Miranda France, TLS

“Woman of the Ashes is a beautiful and grotesque force interweaving history with myth . . . Couto’s prose carries the weight of a creation story in nearly every passage.” ―Daniel Bokemper, World Literature Today

“Based on historical events (with layers of magical realism, Achebe-style allegory, and folklore ladled on top), Couto's ninth novel . . . tells the story of Imani, a 15-year-old girl who finds herself playing a pivotal role in a 19th-century culture clash between an African emperor and Portuguese colonialists. Couto treats his characters to a world of blazing specificity, and yet Imani is also a vessel for our more contemporary battles.” ―Sloan Crosley, Vanity Fair

“Couto’s mastery lies in his ability to turn his exploration of this slice of history into a commentary on all of human civilization. Richly translated by Brookshaw in words that suggest more than they say, Couto’s tale evokes a sense of timelessness . . . An intriguing combination of folklore, history, and magic realism, and the first in a trilogy, this is a novel to be read and reread, savored and analyzed.” ―Shoba Viswanathan, Booklist (starred review)

"Excellent . . . Couto feathers history with folklore . . . a fascinating, intricate story." ―Publishers Weekly

"A rich historical tale thick with allegory and imagery that recalls Marquez and Achebe.” ―Kirkus Reviews

"Woman of the Ashes weaves a stunning tale of a war-torn period." ―Paste Magazine