Reading guide: At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop, translated by Anna Moschovakis
A visceral, haunting novel that highlights the terror and gore of the First World War
Monthly Spotlight: At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop, translated by Anna Moschovakis
Winner of the International Booker Prize in 2021, At Night All Blood is Black is a dark and hypnotic novel that highlights the terror of war
At Night All Blood is Black is David Diop’s second novel. It won the International Booker Prize in 2021, and was shortlisted for another 10 prizes in Diop’s home country of France.
Born in Paris, Diop grew up in Senegal and now lives in France, where he is a professor of 18th-century literature at the University of Pau.
Anna Moschovakis is the translator of At Night All Blood is Black. She has translated multiple works from other French authors, including Albert Cossery and Annie Ernaux.
At Night All Blood is Black tells the story of Alfa Ndiaye, a Senegalese soldier in the French army during the First World War. After his fellow soldier and childhood friend Mademba Diop is killed, Alfa determines to avenge his death, but slowly starts sinking into madness.
From a reading guide and extract, to illuminating features, find out more about our February Monthly Spotlight here.
- By
- David Diop
- Translated by
- Anna Moschovakis
- Published by
- Pushkin Press
Winner of the International Booker Prize 2021. A hypnotic, heartbreaking rendering of a mind hurtling towards madness, shattered by grief and the horror of war
