The Gospel According to the New World

2021 novel by Maryse Condé

  • 278 pp. (Éditions Buchet-Chastel)
  • 184 pp. (World Editions)
Preceded byThe Wondrous and Tragic Life of Ivan and Ivana 

The Gospel According to the New World (French: L'Évangile du nouveau monde) is a French novel by Guadeloupan writer Maryse Condé published in October 2021. Set in Martinique, the novel follows the journey of a miracle baby, named Pascal, rumoured to be the child of God in search of his origins and mission.[1][2] Described by the Financial Times as "a parody of the New Testament", the novel mixes Caribbean folklore with the Bible.[3]

World Editions published the novel's English-language translation, by Condé's husband Richard Philcox, in March 2023,[4] and it was shortlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize.[5][6][7] The judging panel described The Gospel According to the New World as a "deceptively simple novel full of wisdom, generosity of spirit and the writer’s palpable tenderness towards the world and her craft".[8] At the time of the nomination, Condé was the oldest person to have been shortlisted for the prize.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Newly Published, From Queer Friendship to Fabled Forests". The New York Times. 8 March 2023. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. ^ Condé, Maryse (2023). The Gospel According to the New World. Translated by Richard Philcox. New York: World Editions. p. 184. ISBN 978-1-912987-36-8.
  3. ^ Popescu, Lucy (4 May 2023). "The Gospel According to the New World — an odyssey through colonialism, religion and race". Financial Times. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  4. ^ "The Gospel According to the New World". World Editions. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  5. ^ Sarah Shaffi (14 March 2023). "International Booker prize announces longlist to celebrate 'ambition and panache'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  6. ^ "The Gospel According to the New World". thebookerprizes.com. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  7. ^ Cronin, Michael (11 March 2023). "The Gospel According to the New World: for Maryse Condé, gospel truths are always plural". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b Shaffi, Sarah (18 April 2023). "International Booker prize reveals 'very cool and very sexy' shortlist". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
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