A General Theory of Oblivion

A General Theory of Oblivion is a 2012 novel by Angolan author José Eduardo Agualusa. The novel recounts the story of a Portuguese woman who locks herself into her apartment in Angola on the brink of independence. She attempts to cut herself off from the external world for three decades until she meets a young boy who informs her of the radical changes which have occurred in the country in the intervening years. The book is based on real-life events. Written in the author's native language of Portuguese, it was translated into English by Daniel Hahn in 2015. The novel marked the continuation of Hahn's long collaboration with Agualusa. The English version of the novel received acclaim from anglophone audiences. The novel appeared on the short-list for the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, losing to The Vegetarian. The novel was the recipient of the 2017 International Dublin Literary Award, one of the largest literary prizes in the world, with a prize of €100,000.