Nega Mezlekia is a new and exciting talent. His first novel is both magical and lyrical, set in a timeless vision of Africa, it is steeped in folklore and mythology. The ethnic, religious and class struggles of pre-colonial Africa form a vivid backdrop to a story of forbidden love between a slave and his mistress.
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'One part romance, one part foray into feudal society and one part search for spiritual redemption, THE GOD WHO BEGAT A JACKAL is a unique historical novel. The backdrop for this story, which is set in medieval Ethiopia, is both distinctive and refreshing...This is a great diversion into a truly enchantingworld. Complete with great battles and characters with fantastic powers, it is a legend that will restore one's love for the whimsical.'Kate Perry, Times
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Nega Mezlekia was born in Ethopia in 1958 and fled to the Netherlands in the early 1980s. He now lives in Canada.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By P. B. Nobbs
Format:Paperback
A great book. Wonderful storytelling and beautifully crafted - a book that engages all the senses letting you live in the world that has been created.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.6 out of 5 stars
5 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good first novel but needed some serious editing
21 May 2002
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The love story was very engaging in this novel. However, about halfway through, it's lost and suddenly the plot became bogged down with historical information. It totally lost me and I found myself skipping pages. I think Nega is a great writer with much potential as a novelist. His first book was superb. I just think he needs to go back and perfect his novel writing skills. He's not there yet. The structure of this book was off. Historical elements are important but they need to be in the background, coloring the plot. More subtle. I eagerly await his next novel.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Haunting, mythical story with slight pacing problem
14 Aug 2004
By Kelly Cannon Hess
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This haunting first novel is steeped in African folklore and brimming with the class, ethnic and religious struggles of pre-colonial Africa. Aster, the beautiful and intelligent daughter of a feudal lord dares to love one of her father's slaves. Gudu is a deep thinker, a gentle soul born into the lowest stratum of a brutal society. A captivating storyteller, he is among the most prized possessions of Aster's father, Count Ashenafi.
When Gudu and Aster's love is discovered, Gudu barely escapes with his life. He finds refuge and acceptance among Count Ashenafi's enemies, eventually leading them in war against the Count. All the while, the two lovers still dream of being together. Gudu builds a mansion for Aster in his adopted city, while Aster plots to avoid a forced marriage to a man of her father's choosing.
The middle of the book is slowed down somewhat by lengthy and tedious accounts of Gudu's exploits after he joins the Count's enemies.
Through a spare and lyrical prose, Mr. Mezlekia weaves a deeply felt tale that occasionally surprises us with its mythic occurrences, not the least of which involves the ultimate fate of the heroine.
When Gudu and Aster's love is discovered, Gudu barely escapes with his life. He finds refuge and acceptance among Count Ashenafi's enemies, eventually leading them in war against the Count. All the while, the two lovers still dream of being together. Gudu builds a mansion for Aster in his adopted city, while Aster plots to avoid a forced marriage to a man of her father's choosing.
The middle of the book is slowed down somewhat by lengthy and tedious accounts of Gudu's exploits after he joins the Count's enemies.
Through a spare and lyrical prose, Mr. Mezlekia weaves a deeply felt tale that occasionally surprises us with its mythic occurrences, not the least of which involves the ultimate fate of the heroine.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Suspending disbelief
23 July 2002
By James Tsai
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Historical fiction is a genre that I always thought you have to suspend disbelief to a certain degree. That is usually supplanted strongly with the backdrop of history, allowing the reader to believe that the events actually have or at least may have happened.
Mezlekia unfortuanately sabotages this with his antics of magic and unlikelihoods in plot, that moves it more into a genre I'd like to call historical fantasy. But unlike Wilbur Smiths' River God series where the scenery of history and the fantastic elements he uses, Mezlekia writes a story that only confuses the reader and is filled with slow moving sections that only encourages skimming. Gudu and Aster's characters are developed well in some ways, but their motivations for some of their doings come across as baffling at times.
This is a good beach book, that's all it is really for me at the moment.
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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