Marie Marie, by Fátima Mendes Marinho

Translated by Maria Antónia Dale & Philipe Pharo

Marie Marie, written over three years, is a story without time or place—one that could unfold in Portugal, France, or the United States. A work of imagination grounded in extensive research, Marie Marie explores a recent experiment carried out in several countries: allowing pregnant inmates to raise their babies within prison walls.

Thus, Marie, the daughter of Clara—a drug dealer—knows only life inside until the age of six. Her first encounter with the outside world brings a shock she is unprepared for, one that leaves her blind. The great white wings, a gift bestowed upon all prisoners, only complicate her life in freedom, for Marie carries them everywhere.

Refusing to see—quite literally—Marie is led back toward the light by Yuri, an albino African boy who sees in the dark. In gratitude, she offers her wings to him—and the story continues.