Carnival of Angels is a novel about the human condition, about
love, about the old dichotomy between the body and the soul. It is
an exciting narrative with metaphysical overtones and an intricate
fabric of symbols. It is a story of Mario, more the old Hamlet than
the new angry young man.In his last year at the University on
Morningside Heights Mario rebels against the gray academic
surroundings, the conformity and sterile intellectuality. He
descends to the lower world, to Harlem, in a symbolic journey of
discovery. In this hot, squalid, dangerous, yet exciting atmosphere
he moves back to the beginnings of man, back to the fundamental
terrors and desires.In this shadow world he meets Pearl, an exotic
and tragic girl to whom he is mysteriously attracted. Inevitably he
confronts her violent, half-insane lover. Here also he meets the
archetype of all motherhood, a black woman called Mama. His sojourn
in this dreamlike world leads not only to disaster and violence,
but also to a revelation and triumph, and eventually he emerges
into the light once more.
