cover image Between Tides = Entre Les Eaux

Between Tides = Entre Les Eaux

V. Y. Mudimbe. Simon & Schuster, $17.5 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-671-73858-7

In protagonist Pierre Landu, Mudimbe ( Before the Birth of the Moon ) has created a figure layered with all the conflicts of modern Africa. Having rejected his ancestors--and Africa--to join the Catholic priesthood, Landu proceeds to reject the priesthood--hence Europe--to join a ubiquitous and anonymous ``Revolution.'' But this struggle brings him no closer to his people and even in the brutal boot camp, Landu can't wean himself from theology, Vivaldi and Rome. His most natural expression remains Latin prayer. Landu is not a sympathetic character--``insufferable'' is the word used by another character--and much of Between Tides is taken up by pompous and often tedious self-examination. In the book's closing pages, Landu goes through a number of incarnations and--though Between Tides was awarded the Grand Prize, International Catholic Literature in 1975--his destiny is not a testimonial for the Church. Mudimbe is clear that, torn by such divergent extremes, there can be no easy resolution for either Landu or for Africa. (Oct.)