Raphael, a butcher in rural Trinidad, grapples with a novel he's been writing for forty-one years, as his characters impatiently seek lives of their own. From the gritty reality of Million Hills to the mythic landscapes of Luke's travels, and the psychological odysseys of exiles Ella and a jazz saxophonist, The Frequency of Magic traverses diverse lives connected by a shared village.
As time erodes people and culture, Raphael believes that art can challenge destruction and make us see reality anew. Will he finish his novel before his characters scatter completely? This richly ambitious novel, alive with Creole language, jazz rhythms, and the villagers' undimmed urge to create meaning, is perfect for readers of Caribbean literature and magical realism.