Black Butterflies A novel
Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris is a novel published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on August 20, 2024. This 288-page book presents a narrative set during the conflict in the Balkans in the early ’90s, focusing on Zora, an artist and teacher who faces the escalating violence in Sarajevo. As nationalist gangs divide the city into ethnic enclaves, Zora’s life is transformed as she grapples with the realities of war while holding onto her belief in the power of art.
Readers will find a poignant exploration of resilience and hope amidst chaos, as Zora sends her family to safety and remains in the besieged city. The story captures the struggle of individuals from different backgrounds as they confront the disintegration of their lives and communities. Through Zora’s journey, the novel reflects on the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity, making it a significant addition to contemporary literary fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
A NEW YORK TIMES BEST HISTORICAL NOVEL OF THE YEAR • SHORT-LISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION • FINALIST FOR THE DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE 2025 • A timeless story of strife and hope set during the conflict in the Balkans in the early ’90s—a searing debut novel about a woman who faces the war on her doorstep with courage, fierceness, and an unshakable belief in the power of art.
“A reflective novel . . . that tells us life goes on, love stories develop, humanity remains in the most inhumane of times.” —Irish Independent
Sarajevo, spring 1992. Each night, nationalist gangs erect makeshift barricades, splitting the city into ethnic enclaves. Each morning, the people who live there—whether Muslim, Croat, or Serb—push the barriers aside.
When violence erupts and becomes, finally, unavoidable, Zora, an artist and teacher, sends her husband and elderly mother to safety in England. She stays behind, reluctant to believe that hostilities will last more than a few weeks. As the city falls under siege, everything she loves about her home is laid to waste, black ashes floating over the rooftops. Yet Zora and her friends find ways to rebuild themselves, over and over. Told with breathtaking immediacy, this is a story of disintegration, resilience, and hope—a stirring debut from a commanding new voice.
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