A Brief History of Seven Killings
Jamaica

A Brief History of Seven Killings

by Marlon James

Society & Class Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Fiction 2015

Summary

Set primarily in Jamaica during the 1970s and extending into the 1990s, A Brief History of Seven Killings explores the political violence, gang warfare, and social upheaval surrounding the attempted assassination of reggae legend Bob Marley in 1976. Told through the perspectives of an expansive cast of characters, including gang members, journalists, politicians, and CIA operatives, the novel examines the complex relationships between crime, political power, and international interference. As the narrative moves from Kingston to the United States, it traces the long-term consequences of violence on individuals and communities. Through shifting voices, Jamaican patois, and an unflinching portrayal of historical events, Marlon James explores inequality, corruption, identity, and the lasting scars of political conflict. The novel offers a multifaceted portrait of Jamaica’s turbulent history and the human cost of violence.

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Country
Jamaica
North America
About the author
Marlon James
Marlon James

Marlon James is a Jamaican novelist known for his bold, genre-defying fiction exploring history, violence, colonialism, sexuality, and the complexities of Caribbean identity. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1970, he draws on Jamaican history, folklore, music, and political struggles to create richly layered narratives that challenge conventional storytelling. His breakthrough novel, The Book of Night Women (2009), examines slavery and resistance through the lives of enslaved women on a Jamaican plantation. His third novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings (2014), a sprawling, multivoiced narrative inspired by the 1976 attempted assassination of Bob Marley, won the Booker Prize in 2015. James later turned to African mythology and fantasy with Black Leopard, Red Wolf (2019), the first book in his Dark Star trilogy. His work combines linguistic experimentation, dark humor, and historical depth to explore power, identity, and survival.

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Details
Published
2015
Author
Marlon James