Ladivine
Ladivine by Marie Ndiaye, published by MacLehose Press on April 6, 2017, is a literary work that explores the complexities of identity and familial relationships. This edition, available in English, spans 336 pages and delves into the life of Clarisse Rivière, who conceals her true background from her husband and daughter. As she grapples with guilt and the burden of her origins, her deception leads to unforeseen consequences that affect her family dynamics.
Readers will find a narrative that intricately weaves themes of cultural heritage, family life, and the struggles of women across generations. The story unfolds as Clarisse’s lies unravel, impacting her relationships and ultimately leading to tragic revelations. The exploration of secrets, guilt, and the quest for forgiveness forms the backbone of this tale, inviting reflection on the weight of one’s past and the complexities of human connections.
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Longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize 2016
Clarisse Rivière’s life is shaped by a refusal to admit to her husband Richard and to her daughter Ladivine that her mother is a poor black housekeeper. Instead, weighed down by guilt, she pretends to be an orphan, visiting her mother in secret and telling no-one of her real identity as Malinka, daughter of Ladivine Sylla.
In time, her lies turn against her. Richard leaves Clarisse, frustrated by the unbridgeable, indecipherable gulf between them. Clarisse is devastated, but finds solace in a new man, Freddy Moliger, who is let into the secret about her mother, and is even introduced to her.
But Ladivine, her daughter, who is now married herself, cannot shake a bad feeling about her mother’s new lover, convinced that he can bring only chaos and pain into her life. When she is proved right, in the most tragic circumstances, the only comfort the family can turn to requires a leap of faith beyond any they could have imagined.
Centred around three generations of women, whose seemingly cursed lineage is defined by the weight of origins, the pain of alienation and the legacy of shame, Ladivine is a beguiling story of secrets, lies, guilt and forgiveness by one of Europe’s most unique literary voices.
Translated from the French by Jordan Stump
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