Damon Galgut, about whom nothing is known here, one of the great writers of the world, was born in 1963 in Pretoria, in the Republic of South Africa, and published his first novel at seventeen years old. He wrote several novels and stories, won many other awards, apart from the one mentioned above.
About the present novel, excellent in itself and very well translated, the editors write: “The Promise outlines the violent disintegration of a white South African family, the owner of a farm near Pretoria. On her deathbed, Rachel Swart asks her husband to promise her that after years of faithful service, Salome, the black servant of the family, will have her house, her land… And yet, a decade according to another, the promise remains unfulfilled, what’s more, it is a factor of major tension in the family, especially between Rachel’s children: Anton, the boy destined for a golden future who suffers because he has not even reached his potential; Astrid, whose strength lies in her beauty; and the little girl, Amor, whose life is shaped by a nebulous sense of guilt. Brought together by four funerals over the course of thirty years, the dwindling members of the Swart family reflect the atmosphere of their country, animated by resentment, a sense of renewal and, ultimately, hope. At the end of reading this epic, which takes place against the background of the unabated march of history, the readers will undoubtedly find themselves transfigured”.
The novel has four parts, each taking place at one of the mentioned funerals.
“Absolutely fascinating, Galgut’s novel places its characters in the historical plot, interwoven with a number of complicated themes, to reveal the devastating impact of white privilege and institutional racism.” Booklist
“A surprising number of novelists are very good; few are extraordinary… Damon Galgut is in this select company. You would praise the novel for its characteristics – for seriousness; for the balance between formal freedom and elegance; for its humor, precision, human authenticity – it would be inadequate and insufficient. You simply have to read it.” Claire Messud
Damon Galgut – The Promise. Translation from English and notes by Mariana Pirotelă. Litera Publishing House. Contemporary Classics Collection. 319 pages
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