Songs for Angel, the ninth novel in Marie-Claire Blais’s renowned Soifs cycle, is a daring exploration of violence, hatred, and the fragile possibilities of grace. Set against a backdrop of social unrest, it enters the disturbed inner world of a young white supremacist preparing to attack a Black church and its congregation.
Blais weaves this disturbing perspective together with a wide cast of recurring figures from earlier books in the cycle, creating a swirling tapestry of more than a hundred interconnected lives. Through their intersecting stories, she portrays a world marked by injustice, fear, and prejudice, but also by resilience, tenderness, and moments of unexpected beauty.
Written in a challenging, lyrical style, Songs for Angel invites readers to reflect on the roots of extremism and the everyday roles people play in sustaining or resisting violence. It is both a portrait of our time and a meditation on how art, memory, and human connection can confront brutality.
- Ninth volume in the acclaimed Soifs cycle
- Complex psychological portrait of radicalization
- Rich ensemble cast revisiting earlier characters
- Ideal for readers of bold, politically engaged fiction
