CHARACTERS Flashcards
Mme Economopoulos
Greek, older lady, loves reading and has dachshunds and a red Lada; kind to Gaby, and leaves him her books when she dies
Gino’s father
He is Belgian and is a professor in political science at the university in Bujumbara.
Armand’s father
Armand’s parents are from Burundi. Armand is afraid of his dad, who is very strict with his children. He is murdered in the ‘impasse’ by Hutus.
M. et Mme Von Gotzen
An older, German couple, who are somewhat autocratic and retain a colonialist mindset with regards the people of Burundi. They are described as racist, wealthy, and to be avoided.
Gaby
Lives in the outskirts of Paris and has a stable job and an appartment, but is not happy. Feels torn between countries and the memories of his childhood.
Ana
No longer wishes to speak about Burundi (« pays maudit »). Works in business.
Armand
Stayed in Burundi, in the ‘impasse’, although his mother and sisters have left. Managing director of a commercial bank.
Francis
At the end of the book Francis has become an Evangelical pastor. He was an orphan, lived with his uncle, and had a more troubled childhood than the others.
Michel
Michel is French, and moved to Burundi as a young man, married Yvonne, and helped set up factories, including palm oil plants. When the children leave Burundi, he stays behind, and is killed in an ambush a few days later.
Yvonne
Yvonne disappears after going ‘mad’ upon her return from Rwanda, having been driven to drink. She remains in Bujumbara, and Gaby finds her in the bar, almost unrecognisable, and still traumatised by the events she witnessed in Rwanda.
Prothé
Michel finds Prothé dead in the gutter in front of Francis’ house a few days before the children leave Burundi.
Christian
Christian, Gaby’s cousin, was killed in Rwanda, and buried in the garden of his house by Yvonne, along with his three sisters.
