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Manituana

January 01, 1970

Manituana is a novel by Wu Ming first published in Italian in 2007.

Manituana
Verso hardcover edition
AuthorWu Ming
Original titleManituana
TranslatorShaun Whiteside
LanguageItalian
GenreNovel
PublisherVerso Books
Publication date
2009
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages396 pp
ISBN1-84467-342-1

Wu Ming is a collective of five authors founded in 2000. The members were formerly associated with the Luther Blissett Project and wrote the international best-selling novel Q.

Manituana was initially conceived as the first episode of an 18th-century pan-Atlantic trilogy which the authors called "the Atlantic Triptych". All novels would be set in the last three decades of the 18th century, all across the Atlantic Ocean (North America, Europe, the West Indies and Africa), before and during the American and the French Revolutions.

In 2014, when L’Armata dei sonnambuli (The Army of Sleepwalkers) was published in Italy, the collective announced a new phase in their writing. They described historical fiction as "a form we practised for many years, until we decided to move on and use history in other ways […] We treasure what we have learned from exploring that genre and forcing its conventions, and we dedicate ourselves to new experiments”.[1] In a comment on the group’s official blog, Wu Ming stated that they had given up on the idea of completing the Atlantic Triptych, which became a diptych.

Setting and plot edit

Manituana is set in the years 1775–1783 in New York's Mohawk Valley, Quebec, and London.

The novel is divided into three main sections entitled "Iroquireland", "Mohock Club" and "Cold Cold Heart". There are two brief interludes between the sections, entitled "The Crossing" and "The Return".

Among the numerous real historical characters that populate the book, the most important ones are Joseph Brant, war chief of the Mohawk nation, and Molly Brant, a matron of the Wolf clan in the Iroquois Six Nations.

Characters edit

  • Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet. Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the northern colonies.
  • Joseph Brant. Mohawk war chief and translator for the British Indian Department.
  • Molly Brant. Joseph Brant's older sister and Sir William's common-law-wife.
  • Philip Lacroix (fictional). A Mohawk brave nicknamed "Le Grand Diable"
  • Guy Johnson. Sir William's nephew and successor as Superintendent.
  • Esther Johnson. (Fictional) eldest daughter of Guy Johnson.
  • Lord Warwick. (Semi-fictional) mentor of the Mohawk delegation during their stay in London.
  • The "London Mohocks". An East End street gang taking inspiration from Native American imagery and the Mohock Club.
  • Ethan Allen. Revolutionary leader and Colonel Commandant of the Green Mountain Boys.
  • Johannes Tekarihoga. A Sachem of the Mohawk Nation.
  • Jonas Klug. A land-owner and militiaman in the Mohawk Valley.
  • Nicholas Herkimer. Brigadier General in the Tryon County militia.
  • Panifex. A London journalist.
  • "North", "East", "South" and "West". Four London merchants and opinion-makers.

Reactions and interpretations edit

In the springtime of 2007, Manituana reached #4 in the Italian best-seller charts.[2] In the following months, it was awarded the Premio Sergio Leone 2007 and the Premio Emilio Salgari 2008. The US, UK, Spanish and French editions were all published in 2009. The novel was translated into English by Shaun Whiteside. In November 2010 the novel was nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award.

In an entry on their weblog, Wu Ming wrote that "Manituana was written between 2003 and 2007, and it soaked up all the tensions of that period: S11, the Neoconservative hegemony on US foreign policy, the lies on Saddam allegedly keeping weapons of mass destruction hidden in the desert, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, George W. Bush winning his second term thanks to the Christian right in 2004, Silvio Berlusconi conquering the hearts and minds of the majority of Italians etc.[3]"

This was acknowledged by many reviewers. Film critic and writer Woody Haut wrote that the novel "has clear parallels with the war in Iraq, and the pitting of "good" Muslims against "bad" Muslims, just as Native Americans were used during the revolutionary period, only for the colonists to exploit and devastate both groups.[4]"

British newspaper The Independent wrote

The authors gleefully revise orthodox history to present the loyalist Mohawks as victims of canting, racist rebels who march into battle under banners such as "Civilisation and death to all savages". But there is nothing smug or glib about this rivetting reversal of two centuries and more of textbook and big-screen platitudes.[5]

The French newspaper Le Monde wrote that in Manituana "history is never simple nor reducible to pre-fixed schemes... Reality is much more complex and tangled, and every character has gloomy facets, weaknesses and contradictions. No-one is neither completely innocent nor completely guilty, and one's legitimate battle for liberty and independence may bring about the loss of someone else's independence and liberty."[6]

Editions edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Wu Ming, “What Is The Wu Ming Foundation?”, Giap, last update July 2th, 2002 - retrieved on September 1st, 2023.
  2. ^ Reported on Italian daily paper La Stampa on April 7, 2007, article included by Wu Ming on their website.
  3. ^ Awaiting Manituana: A New Beginning in the English-speaking world? 2009-05-08 at the Wayback Machine, Wu Ming Foundation Blog, April 27, 2009.
  4. ^ Woody Haut, "Manituana by Wu Ming", Woody Haut's Blog, October 30, 2009.
  5. ^ Boyd Tonkin, Manituana, by Wu Ming, The Independent, November 6, 2009.
  6. ^ Fabio Gambaro, "Avec les Mohawks, l'Histoire côté perdants", Le Monde, August 27, 2009. English translation on the book's website".

External links edit

  • Official website (multilingual).
  • .

January 01, 1970
manituana, novel, ming, first, published, italian, 2007, verso, hardcover, editionauthorwu, mingoriginal, titletranslatorshaun, whitesidelanguageitaliangenrenovelpublisherverso, bookspublication, date2009media, typeprint, hardcover, pages396, ppisbn1, 84467, m. Manituana is a novel by Wu Ming first published in Italian in 2007 ManituanaVerso hardcover editionAuthorWu MingOriginal titleManituanaTranslatorShaun WhitesideLanguageItalianGenreNovelPublisherVerso BooksPublication date2009Media typePrint Hardcover Pages396 ppISBN1 84467 342 1 Wu Ming is a collective of five authors founded in 2000 The members were formerly associated with the Luther Blissett Project and wrote the international best selling novel Q Manituanawas initially conceived as the first episode of an 18th century pan Atlantic trilogy which the authors called the Atlantic Triptych All novels would be set in the last three decades of the 18th century all across the Atlantic Ocean North America Europe the West Indies and Africa before and during the American and the French Revolutions In 2014 when L Armata dei sonnambuli The Army of Sleepwalkers was published in Italy the collective announced a new phase in their writing They described historical fiction as a form we practised for many years until we decided to move on and use history in other ways We treasure what we have learned from exploring that genre and forcing its conventions and we dedicate ourselves to new experiments 1 In a comment on the group s official blog Wu Ming stated that they had given up on the idea of completing the Atlantic Triptych which became a diptych Contents 1 Setting and plot 2 Characters 3 Reactions and interpretations 4 Editions 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksSetting and plot editManituana is set in the years 1775 1783 in New York s Mohawk Valley Quebec and London The novel is divided into three main sections entitled Iroquireland Mohock Club and Cold Cold Heart There are two brief interludes between the sections entitled The Crossing and The Return Among the numerous real historical characters that populate the book the most important ones are Joseph Brant war chief of the Mohawk nation and Molly Brant a matron of the Wolf clan in the Iroquois Six Nations Characters editSir William Johnson 1st Baronet Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the northern colonies Joseph Brant Mohawk war chief and translator for the British Indian Department Molly Brant Joseph Brant s older sister and Sir William s common law wife Philip Lacroix fictional A Mohawk brave nicknamed Le Grand Diable Guy Johnson Sir William s nephew and successor as Superintendent Esther Johnson Fictional eldest daughter of Guy Johnson Lord Warwick Semi fictional mentor of the Mohawk delegation during their stay in London The London Mohocks An East End street gang taking inspiration from Native American imagery and the Mohock Club Ethan Allen Revolutionary leader and Colonel Commandant of the Green Mountain Boys Johannes Tekarihoga A Sachem of the Mohawk Nation Jonas Klug A land owner and militiaman in the Mohawk Valley Nicholas Herkimer Brigadier General in the Tryon County militia Panifex A London journalist North East South and West Four London merchants and opinion makers Reactions and interpretations editIn the springtime of 2007 Manituana reached 4 in the Italian best seller charts 2 In the following months it was awarded the Premio Sergio Leone 2007 and the Premio Emilio Salgari 2008 The US UK Spanish and French editions were all published in 2009 The novel was translated into English by Shaun Whiteside In November 2010 the novel was nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award In an entry on their weblog Wu Ming wrote that Manituana was written between 2003 and 2007 and it soaked up all the tensions of that period S11 the Neoconservative hegemony on US foreign policy the lies on Saddam allegedly keeping weapons of mass destruction hidden in the desert the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq George W Bush winning his second term thanks to the Christian right in 2004 Silvio Berlusconi conquering the hearts and minds of the majority of Italians etc 3 This was acknowledged by many reviewers Film critic and writer Woody Haut wrote that the novel has clear parallels with the war in Iraq and the pitting of good Muslims against bad Muslims just as Native Americans were used during the revolutionary period only for the colonists to exploit and devastate both groups 4 British newspaper The Independent wrote The authors gleefully revise orthodox history to present the loyalist Mohawks as victims of canting racist rebels who march into battle under banners such as Civilisation and death to all savages But there is nothing smug or glib about this rivetting reversal of two centuries and more of textbook and big screen platitudes 5 The French newspaperLe Monde wrote that in Manituana history is never simple nor reducible to pre fixed schemes Reality is much more complex and tangled and every character has gloomy facets weaknesses and contradictions No one is neither completely innocent nor completely guilty and one s legitimate battle for liberty and independence may bring about the loss of someone else s independence and liberty 6 Editions editItalian Einaudi 2007 ISBN 88 06 18584 5 Italian Einaudi SuperET paperback 2009 ISBN 88 06 19637 5 English Verso 2009 ISBN 1 84467 342 1 French Metailie 2009 ISBN 2 86424 688 0 Spanish Mondadori 2009 ISBN 84 397 2185 4 German Assoziation A 2018 ISBN 978 3 86241 465 9See also editWu Ming Q novel 54 New Italian EpicReferences edit Wu Ming What Is The Wu Ming Foundation Giap last update July 2th 2002 retrieved on September 1st 2023 Reported on Italian daily paper La Stampa on April 7 2007 article included by Wu Ming on their website Awaiting Manituana A New Beginning in the English speaking world Archived 2009 05 08 at the Wayback Machine Wu Ming Foundation Blog April 27 2009 Woody Haut Manituana by Wu Ming Woody Haut s Blog October 30 2009 Boyd Tonkin Manituana by Wu Ming The Independent November 6 2009 Fabio Gambaro Avec les Mohawks l Histoire cote perdants Le Monde August 27 2009 English translation on the book s website External links editOfficial website multilingual Wu Ming s weblog in English Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Manituana amp oldid 1173451837, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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