Félix Ventura trades in an unusual commodity; he is a dealer in memories,
clandestinely selling new pasts to people whose futures are secure and who
lack only a good lineage to complete their lives. In this completely
original murder mystery, where people are not who they seem and the
briefest of connections leads to the forging of entirely new histories, a
bookish albino, a beautiful woman, a mysterious foreigner, and a witty
talking lizard come together to discover the truth of their lives. Set in
Angola, Agualusa's tale darts from tormented past to dream-filled present
with a lightness that belies the savage history of a country in which many
have something to forget -- and to hide. A brilliant American debut by one
of the most lauded writers in the Portuguese-speaking world, this is a
beautifully written and always surprising tale of race, truth, and the
transformative power of creativity.