Dealing with the Dead

Abruptly deceased at the age of twenty-four and trapped forever in flared purple trousers, Liwa Ekimakingaï encounters the other residents of Frère Lachaise cemetery, all of whom have their own complex stories of life and death.
Unwilling to relinquish their tender bond, Liwa makes his way back home to see his devoted grandmother one last time, against all spectral advice. But disturbing rumours swirl together with Liwa's jumbled memories of his last night on earth, leading him to pursue the riddle of his own untimely demise. A phantasmagorical tale of ambition, community and forces beyond human control, Dealing with the Dead is a scathing satire on corruption and political violence by one of the foremost chroniclers of modern Central Africa.

Alain Mabanckou's seven previous novels, including African Psycho, are all published by Serpent's Tail. Mabanckou teaches at UCLA, is a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur and was awarded the Académie Française's Grand Prix de littérature. Black Moses was shortlisted for the 2015 Man Booker International Prize.