I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem

by Maryse Condé

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Book Overview: I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem

This wild and entertaining novel expands on the true story of the West Indian slave Tituba, who was accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts, arrested in 1692, and forgotten in jail until the general amnesty for witches two years later. Maryse Condé brings Tituba out of historical silence and creates for her a fictional childhood, adolescence, and old age. She turns her into what she calls “a sort of female hero, an epic heroine, like the legendary ‘Nanny of the maroons, ‘” who, schooled in the sorcery and magical ritual of obeah, is arrested for healing members of the family that owns her.

CARAF Books: Caribbean and African Literature Translated from French

This book has been supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent federal agencY.

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Editorial Reviews

“In less sure hands, this short, powerful novel, which won France’s Grand Prix Littéraire de la Femme in 1986, might well have become merely an extended denunciation of a perverted and evil society. What makes it larger and richer are Ms. Condé’s gift for storytelling and her unswerving focus on her characters, combined with her mordant sense of humor.” — “New York Times Book Review”

“At once playful and searing, Condé’s work critiques ostensibly white, male versions of history and literature by appropriating them.” — “Publishers Weekly”

“Condé is one of the most prolific writers of the Caribbean and perhaps the most powerful woman’s voice in contemporary literature of the Americas. Her interpretation of the Salem witch trials, recast from her own dreams, is a remarkable work of historical fiction that is a haunting and powerful reminder of the dangers of intolerance of differences.” — “CHOICE”

“Maryse Condé’s imaginative subversion of historical records forms a critique of contemporary American society and its ingrained racism and sexism that is as discomfiting as Arthur Miller’s critique, based on the same historical material, of McCarthyism and 1950s America in his play ‘The Crucible.'”

About the Author

Maryse Condé

Maryse Condé is an iconic figure in contemporary literature, renowned worldwide for her profound exploration of post-colonial themes. Born on February 11, 1937, in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, she steadily climbed the literary ranks, championing Caribbean culture while also shedding light on issues of race, gender, and class. Condé holds a PhD in Caribbean literature from the Sorbonne and has served as a professor at several prestigious universities, including Columbia University, where she taught French and Francophone literature.

The author of over twenty novels, Condé is best known for her historical fiction, “Segu,” which focuses on 19th century West Africa, and the critically acclaimed, “I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem,” a feminist interpretation of the Salem witch trials. Her narrative style interweaves complex societal issues with personal struggles, creating layered storylines that resonate with readers across the globe. Condé’s work has been widely recognized in literary circles, most notably, she received the New Academy Prize in Literature in 2018, often regarded as an alternative to the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Despite her towering stature in literature, Maryse Condé remains grounded in her devotion to teaching and studying literature, believing in its power to effect societal change. A fervent advocate for recognizing diverse perspectives within the literary world, she has inspired a new generation of writers to investigate and challenge the societal norms and to use their voices boldly. Through her pioneering work, complex storytelling, and steadfast dedication to literature, Condé has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape.