Explosion in a Cathedral

About “Explosion in a Cathedral”

A historical novel by Alejo Carpentier, Explosion in a Cathedral is set in the Caribbean during the French Revolution. It follows Victor Hugues, a real-life figure who led a naval attack to reclaim the island of Guadeloupe from the English in the early 1800s. The story introduces the wealthy orphans Esteban and Sofia, whose lives are upended when Hugues enters their world. The novel explores the dramatic transformations of the era through their experiences.