On Carnival evening in Fort-de-France, a magnificent teller of tales suddenly collapses on stage and dies, his throat snickt by the word. Whodunit and how? This rollicking novel packed with startling turns of phrase and set to a gently manic Caribbean beat, conducts an investigation into a universe that defies explanation–or prose–the universe of those truly gifted at speech. A play of words as much of character, this shimmering tale of the death of the ancient and the bungling of the new, despite its lyrical flights of fancy, is firmly rooted in place. A unique vision of island life and power by a truly original voice out of Martinique.