Book of Chameleons
Angolan author José Eduardo Agualusa, winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in 2007, talks to Felicity Heywood about his new novel, Book of Chameleons.
Felix, the central character of the Book of Chameleons came to Angolan author José Eduardo Agualusa in his dreams. And dreams are central to the novel and to Angolan life says Agualusa. Chameleons tells the story of the Felix’s foray into selling fake pasts to rich people in Angola.
Written in Portuguese and translated into English by Daniel Hahn , both Agualusa and Hahn have been awarded the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2007. It celebrated ‘an exceptional work’ of fiction by a living author which has been translated into English from any other language and published in the United Kingdom in the past year. Worth £10,000 in total, the prize is a partnership between Arts Council England and the Independent newspaper, in association with Champagne Taittinger.
"In Angola," says Agualusa, "the boundary between reality and fiction is very close." Felix rewrites characters life stories creating new biographies and genealogies. It is a book about memory, about what we choose to remember or forget. Rewriting happens all the time in reality.
This is what the judges of the prize had to say: "The Book of Chameleons is a delightful, moving and revealing novel about modern Africa, about memory, grief and the endurance of hope. It is remarkable for its witty originality and profound humanity, and blessed by a captivating translation from the Portuguese by Daniel Hahn."
Agualusa was born in Angola and lives there and Portugal. He works as a journalist and writer. He says the prize is important in bringing exposure to writers from aboard. "In England less than 3 per cent [of published books] come from other languages."
A prolific novelist, poet and playwright, The Book of Chameleons is the second of his novels to be translated into English – both published by Arcadia Books in London.
Agualusa says he is inspired by Latin American writers such as the Colombian Gabriel Garcia Marquez – who the world knows – but also less well known writers from Spain and Brazil.
Agualusa says: "The most important thing for a writer is to be open to the world and stories come to you." Dreaming is a part of that. But there is also a political side. He says that Chameleons doesn’t edge away from tackling politics. He says it shines a critical eye over Angolan society and the way politicians create a new past for themselves.
Africa is dear to his heart and his next book to be published this year in Portuguese will be about mermaids, jazz music, Angola, travel, reality and fiction. He says the book will essentially be about women and music. "The essence of Africa is music and women. Africa is recovering. The music is announcing the recovery of Africa." And he adds: "The women are the real pillar of the family and the country."