Broken Glass

novel by Mabanckou

Also known as: “Verre cassé”

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July 21, 2026

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Broken Glass (2005) is a novel by Alain Mabanckou that humorously explores the cultural differences and interactions between France and the Republic of the Congo. The story is told through the perspective of a shopkeeper in Pointe-Noire, Congo, who reflects on his experiences and observations. Mabanckou, known for his wordplay and unique use of punctuation, often addresses the lasting impacts of colonialism in Africa. Broken Glass was one of his first novels to gain significant recognition in English translation.1

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Alain Mabanckou
Novels
With Verre cassé (2005; Broken Glass), a comic reflection on French and Congolese cultures and Mabanckou’s second novel to be translated into English, he found a considerable English-language audience. His next fictional offering, Mémoires de porc-épic (2006; Memoirs of a Porcupine), won the Prix Renaudot. It puts a new…
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With Verre cassé (2005; Broken Glass), a comic reflection on French and Congolese cultures and Mabanckou’s second novel to be translated into English, he found a considerable English-language audience. His next fictional offering, Mémoires de porc-épic (2006; Memoirs of a Porcupine), won the Prix Renaudot. It puts a new…
Read More