
Marlon James is a Jamaican-born writer. He has published three novels: John Crow's Devil (2005), The Book of Night Women (2009) and A Brief History of Seven Killings (2014), winner of the 2015 Man Booker Prize. Now living in Minneapolis, James teaches literature at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. James was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to parents who were both in the Jamaican police: his mother (who gave him his first prose book, a collection of stories by O. Henry) became a detective and his father (from whom James took a love of Shakespeare and Coleridge) a lawyer. James is a 1991 graduate of the University of the West Indies, where he read Language and Literature. He received a master's degree in creative writing from Wilkes University (2006). James has taught English and creative writing at Macalester College since 2007. His first novel, John Crow's Devil — which was rejected 70 times before being accepted for publication — tells the story of a biblical struggle in a remote Jamaican village in 1957. His second novel, The Book of Night Women, is about a slave woman's revolt in a Jamaican plantation in the early 19th century. His most recent novel, 2014's A Brief History of Seven Killings, explores several decades of Jamaican history and political instability through the perspectives of many narrators. It won the fiction category of the 2015 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature and the 2015 Man Booker Prize for Fiction, having been the first book by a Jamaican author ever to be shortlisted. He is the second Caribbean winner of the prize, following Trinidad-born V. S. Naipaul who won in 1971. (from Wikipedia)
From the acclaimed author of The Book of Night Women comes a masterfully written novel that explores the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in the late 1970s. On December 3, 1976, just before the Jamaican general election and two days before Bob Marley was to play the Smile Jamaica Concert, gunmen stormed his house, machine guns blazing. The attack nearly killed the Reggae superstar, his wife, and his manager, and injured several others. Marley would go on to perform at the free concert on December 5, but he left the country the next day, not to return for two years. Deftly spanning decades and continents and peopled with a wide range of characters—assassins, journalists, drug dealers, and even ghosts—A Brief History of Seven Killings is the fictional exploration of that dangerous and unstable time and its bloody aftermath, from the streets and slums of Kingston in the �70s, to the crack wars in �80s New York, to a radically altered Jamaica in the �90s. Brilliantly inventive and stunningly ambitious, this novel is a revealing modern epic that will secure Marlon James’ place among the great literary talents of his generation.
The Book of Night Women is a sweeping, startling novel, a true tour de force of both voice and storytelling. It is the story of Lilith, born into slavery on a Jamaican sugar plantation at the end of the eighteenth century. Even at her birth, the slave women around her recognize a dark power that they and she will come to both revere and fear. The Night Women, as they call themselves, have long been plotting a slave revolt, and as Lilith comes of age and reveals the extent of her power, they see her as the key to their plans. But when she begins to understand her own feelings and desires and identity, Lilith starts to push at the edges of what is imaginable for the life of a slave woman in Jamaica, and risks becoming the conspiracy's weak link. Lilith's story overflows with high drama and heartbreak, and life on the plantation is rife with dangerous secrets, unspoken jealousies, inhuman violence, and very human emotion between slave and master, between slave and overseer, and among the slaves themselves. Lilith finds herself at the heart of it all. And all of it told in one of the boldest literary voices to grace the page recently--and the secret of that voice is one of the book's most intriguing mysteries.
In the first novel in Marlon James's Dark Star trilogy, myth, fantasy, and history come together to explore what happens when a mercenary is hired to find a missing child. Tracker is known far and wide for his skills as a hunter: "He has a nose," people say. Engaged to track down a mysterious boy who disappeared three years earlier, Tracker breaks his own rule of always working alone when he finds himself part of a group that comes together to search for the boy. The band is a hodgepodge, full of unusual characters with secrets of their own, including a shape-shifting man-animal known as Leopard.Drawing from African history and mythology and his own rich imagination, Marlon James has written an adventure that's also an ambitious, involving read. Defying categorization and full of unforgettable characters, Black Leopard, Red Wolf explores the fundamentals of truths, the limits of power, the excesses of ambition, and our need to understand them all.
From Marlon James, author of the bestselling National Book Award finalist Black Leopard, Red Wolf, the second book in the Dark Star trilogy, his African Game of Thrones.In Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Sogolon the Moon Witch proved a worthy adversary to Tracker as they clashed across a mythical African landscape in search of a mysterious boy who disappeared. In Moon Witch, Spider King, Sogolon takes center stage and gives her own account of what happened to the boy, and how she plotted and fought, triumphed and failed as she looked for him. It’s also the story of a century-long feud—seen through the eyes of a 177-year-old witch—that Sogolon had with the Aesi, chancellor to the king. It is said that Aesi works so closely with the king that together they are like the eight limbs of one spider. Aesi’s power is considerable—and deadly. It takes brains and courage to challenge him, which Sogolon does for reasons of her own.Both a brilliant narrative device—seeing the story told in Black Leopard, Red Wolf from the perspective of an adversary and a woman—as well as a fascinating battle between different versions of empire, Moon Witch, Spider King delves into Sogolon’s world as she fights to tell her own story. Part adventure tale, part chronicle of an indomitable woman who bows to no man, it is a fascinating novel that explores power, personality, and the places where they overlap.
This stunning debut novel tells the story of a biblical struggle in a remote Jamaican village in 1957. With language as taut as classic works by Cormac McCarthy, and a richness reminiscent of early Toni Morrison, Marlon James reveals his unique narrative command that will firmly establish his place as one of today's freshest, most talented young writers.In the village of Gibbeah--where certain women fly and certain men protect secrets with their lives--magic coexists with religion, and good and evil are never as they seem. In this town, a battle is fought between two men of God. The story begins when a drunkard named Hector Bligh (the "Rum Preacher") is dragged from his pulpit by a man calling himself "Apostle" York. Handsome and brash, York demands a fire-and-brimstone church, but sets in motion a phenomenal and deadly struggle for the soul of Gibbeah itself. John Crow's Devil is a novel about religious mania, redemption, sexual obsession, and the eternal struggle inside all of us between the righteous and the wicked.
by Marlon James
Rating: 4.1 ⭐
Marlon James Collection 3 Books (A Brief History of Seven WINNER of the Man Booker Prize 2015, The Book of Night Women, John Crow's Devil) Boundle Description Titles in this series A Brief History of Seven Killings The Book of Night Women John Crow's Devil Description Title By Title A Brief History of Seven Killings Seven gunmen storm Bob Marleys house, machine guns blazing. The reggae superstar survives, but the gunmen are never caught. From the acclaimed author of The Book of Night Women comes a dazzling display of masterful storytelling exploring this near-mythic event. Spanning three decades and crossing continents, A Brief History of Seven Killings chronicles the lives of a host of unforgettable characters slum kids, drug lords, journalists, prostitutes, gunmen and even the CIA. The Book of Night Women This is the story of Lilith, born into slavery on a Jamaican sugar plantation at the end of the eighteenth century. Even at her birth, the Night Women a clandestine council of fierce slaves plotting an island-wide revolt recognize a dark force in her that they treat with both reverence and fear. But as Lilith comes of age and begins to understand her own feelings and identity, she dares to push at the edges of what is imaginable for the life of a slave woman. John Crow's Devil On a day beginning with a bad omen black vultures, known locally as John Crows, crash through the local church windows a handsome and charismatic stranger drags the village preacher from his pulpit and takes over both church and congregation. Promising vengeance and damnation, he wastes no time delivering both, and in doing so starts a power struggle that sets the village of Gibbeah on a path to destruction.
Please Note That The Following Individual Books As Per Original ISBN and Cover Image In this Listing shall be Dispatched The Dark Star Trilogy 2 Books Collection Set By Marlon Black Leopard, Red Tracker is known far and wide for his skills as a "He has a nose," people say. Engaged to track down a mysterious boy who disappeared three years earlier, Tracker breaks his own rule of always working alone when he finds himself part of a group that comes together to search for the boy. The band is a hodgepodge.Moon Witch, Spider In Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Sogolon the Moon Witch proved a worthy adversary to Tracker as they clashed across a mythical African landscape in search of a mysterious boy who disappeared. In Moon Witch, Spider King, Sogolon takes center stage and gives her own account of what happened to the boy, and how she plotted and fought, triumphed and failed as she looked for him.
Marlon James Bestselling Set of 2 Books. A Brief History of Seven Killings, 9781594633942; The Book of Night Women, 9781594484360.
In the heart of the Kahua Forest, a magnificent lion prowled the ancient woodland, its golden eyes gleaming with a profound intelligence that transcended the realm of mere beasts. This guardian, as the villagers of Ashanti came to know it, was not a creature to be feared, but rather a protector of the delicate balance that sustained their beloved home.Through the courageous efforts of Kara, a young and determined member of the community, the villagers learned to forge a connection with the lion, to see it not as a threat, but as an integral part of the natural world they inhabited. By consulting the wisdom of their elders and approaching the guardian with open hearts and minds, they discovered that the lion's presence was a blessing, a sign that the Kahua Forest was in a state of harmony and that Ashanti was under the watchful gaze of a powerful, benevolent force.From that day forward, the people of Ashanti dedicated themselves to the role of guardians, working tirelessly to maintain the balance of the ancient woodland and honor the trust bestowed upon them by the magnificent lion. Through patrols, rituals of reverence, and a deep understanding of the land's rhythms, they ensured that the Kahua Forest and its guardian remained in a state of equilibrium, protecting their home and their way of life for generations to come.
by Marlon James
The Story of Haile Selassie I is a sweeping and unforgettable portrait of one of the most remarkable figures of the twentieth century — a man who embodied the strength, dignity, and spirit of Africa during a time of global change. Through powerful storytelling and meticulous research, Marlon James brings to life the extraordinary journey of Ethiopia’s last emperor, Haile Selassie I — a monarch, reformer, and icon whose influence still echoes across the world today.Born Tafari Makonnen in 1892, he rose from humble beginnings in the Ethiopian highlands to sit upon one of the oldest thrones in the world — a throne that claimed direct descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. As Emperor Haile Selassie I, he became a living symbol of hope and resistance, leading his nation through invasion, exile, and triumph. When Mussolini’s Italy unleashed its fascist aggression upon Ethiopia in 1935, Selassie stood before the League of Nations and delivered one of history’s most haunting speeches, “It is us today. It will be you tomorrow.” His words, ignored by the world at the time, became prophetic as World War II erupted only years later.But this book does more than tell the story of a ruler — it unveils the man behind the crown. It explores his faith, vision, and contradictions; his deep devotion to his people; and his tireless mission to modernize Ethiopia while preserving its ancient roots. From the golden halls of Addis Ababa to the battlefields of liberation, from his exile in England to his triumphant return to his homeland, readers are taken on an epic journey through courage, diplomacy, and destiny.Haile Selassie’s legacy extends far beyond Ethiopia’s borders. To millions of Rastafarians around the world, he is Jah — the Conquering Lion of Judah, the divine symbol of black liberation and unity. To historians, he remains a reformer who tried to bridge tradition and progress. To ordinary Africans, he was a voice of independence in a continent long oppressed. His reign may have ended with revolution in 1974, but his name, his image, and his words continue to inspire freedom movements, faith communities, and cultural icons from Jamaica to Johannesburg.Marlon James captures not only the triumphs but also the trials of Haile Selassie’s reign — the human struggles behind the royal façade, the political tensions that surrounded him, and the final years that saw his empire crumble under the weight of change. Yet, through it all, Selassie’s unyielding faith in God and in the destiny of his people never faded.Rich in detail and emotion, The Story of Haile Selassie I is both a history and a meditation — a timeless exploration of leadership, faith, and the enduring power of conviction. It reminds readers that true greatness is not measured by crowns or titles, but by the courage to stand for what is right, even when the world turns its back.This book will resonate with lovers of history, biography, spirituality, and African heritage — a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the man behind the legend, and the enduring flame of one of the world’s most fascinating figures.