The Mad chosen as one of the '100 Notable African Books of 2025'

 

Brittle Paper have included Ignatius Mabasa's The Mad in its list of 100 Notable African Books of 2025

(https://brittlepaper.com/100-notable-african-books-of-2025/), saying 'Originally published in Shona as Mapenzi, this milestone of Zimbabwean literature finally receives a fearless English translation.' The translation, by J. Tsitsi Mutiti, follows the original novel in being recognised - Mapenzi was featured in the Times Literary Supplement as 'one of the most significant novels to have come out of Africa.'

Brittle Paper is an online literary magazine for readers of African Literature. They are Africa’s premier online literary brand inspiring readers to explore and celebrate African literary experience in all its diversity.

The Mad is co-published in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom by amaBooks Publishers and Carnelian Heart Publishing. The University of Georgia Press are to be publish the novel in North America in April 2026.

North America Cover

UK/Zimbabwe Cover