Literary news is marked by the release of Ananda Devi’s latest novel, entitled “The Day of the Chameleons”. Considered the great lady of Mauritian letters, Devi transports us once again into her dark and poetic universe.
In this futuristic novel, the author explores the excesses of Mauritius, where tectonic upheavals only accentuate the greed of men. Mauritian society is in chaos, and this time, it’s the chameleons waiting in the wings, ready to take the place of the self-destructive humans.
Ananda Devi’s pen is incandescent, mixing cruelty and beauty in captivating prose. For more than fifty years, the Mauritian writer has offered us prodigious works, translated into several languages. She delicately explores themes of resistance, marginalization and devastation, delving into the complexities of a multicultural society.
It was at the age of fifteen that Devi began to write, following a significant encounter with underprivileged young people. Since then, she has published around fifteen novels, collections of short stories and collections of poetry. Each of his works addresses profound topics, such as cultural hybridity, patriarchal domination, capitalism and consumerism, and social inequality.
“The Day of the Chameleons” presents itself as an ancient tragedy, with a spatio-temporal framework ordered according to the rules of the three unities. The plot focuses on four main characters, facing an impending apocalypse. Ananda Devi’s poetic prose also gives voice to the island itself, which denounces human cruelty.
This latest novel confirms Ananda Devi’s undeniable talent as a writer. His incandescent writing and his ability to explore the darkest corners of the human condition make him a major voice in contemporary literature. “The Day of the Chameleons” is a novel that is both captivating and alarming, reminding us of the crucial issues of our time.
In conclusion, Ananda Devi offers us with “The Day of the Chameleons” a novel of great intensity, where the future of Mauritian society is played out between devastation and renewal. Her incandescent pen and her ability to explore the darkness of the human soul make her an essential author.