Cion A Novel
Cion A Novel by Zakes Mda, published by Macmillan on August 21, 2007, is a work of fiction that intertwines historical and literary elements. The narrative follows Toloki, a professional mourner who relocates to Athens, Ohio, where he becomes involved with a local family and uncovers the history of their ancestors, runaway slaves. Through his experiences, including his interactions with a young man and his sister, Toloki’s journey reveals connections to the past and the legacy of the Underground Railroad.
Readers will find that Cion explores themes of identity and freedom as it alternates between Toloki’s contemporary life and the harrowing tale of two escaped slaves navigating their way to safety. The novel delves into the significance of quilting as a means of storytelling and connection to heritage. With 312 pages, this first edition offers a rich narrative that sheds light on both personal and collective histories, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in historical fiction and coming-of-age stories.
Official synopsis Publisher
A Picador Paperback Original
The hero of Zakes Mda’s beloved Ways of Dying, Toloki, sets down with a family in Middle America and uncovers the story of the runaway slaves who were their ancestors.
Toloki, the professional mourner, has come to live in America. Lured to Athens, Ohio, by an academic at the local university, Toloki makes friends with an angry young man he meets at a Halloween parade and soon falls in love with the young man’s sister. Toloki endears himself to a local quilting group and his quilting provides a portal to the past, a story of two escaped slaves seeking freedom in Ohio.
Making their way north from Virginia with nothing but their mother’s quilts for a map, the boys hope to find a promised land where blacks can live as free men. Their story alternates with Toloki’s, as the two narratives cast a new light on America in the twenty-first century and on an undiscovered legacy of the Underground Railroad.
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