<div>A &ldquo;hauntingly effective&rdquo; surrealist travel memoir about the mysterious transformations that may lurk inside us all (Library Journal, starred review). Venice, 2020. As a pandemic rages across the globe, Zito Madu finds himself in a nearly deserted city, its walls and basilicas humming with strange magic. As he wanders a haunted landscape, we see him twist further into his own past: his family&rsquo;s difficult immigration from Nigeria to Detroit, his troubled relationship with his father, the sporadic joys of daily life and solitude, his experiences with migration, poverty, foreignness, racism, and his own rage and regret. But as it is with all labyrinths, after finding its center, will he come away unscathed, or will he transform into the gripping, fantastical monstrousness that&rsquo;s out to consume him whole? With nods to Italo Calvino and Jorge Luis Borges, this surrealist debut memoir takes us into the labyrinth of memory and the monsters lurking there. </div>

The Minotaur at Calle Lanza

<div>This autobiography by the sport&rsquo;s first African American world champion is &ldquo;a compelling story for any cycling fan&rdquo; (Outside). More than a century ago, Marshall &ldquo;Major&rdquo; Taylor overcame racial prejudice to become one of the most dominant cyclists in history. The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World, which Taylor self-published in 1928, gives a riveting first-person account of his rise to the highest echelons of professional cycling. Born in Indianapolis, he eventually became the first African American cycling world champion, going on to set seven world records in the sport. Here he recounts his exploits as an athlete, including his early taste of success in a grueling six-day race, his unparalleled dominance as a sprinter, and some of his most bitter defeats. But the man who achieved international fame as the &ldquo;Black Cyclone&rdquo; also details the extreme prejudice he faced both on and off the track. This is a story about one of the greatest athletes in American history, but also a moving testament to Taylor&rsquo;s resilience and determination in the face of overt racism and seemingly impossible odds. &ldquo;Taylor paints vivid a picture of bike racing in the United States at the turn of the [twentieth] century, and highlights his mental process in dealing with racism . . . all while becoming, indeed, the fastest bike racer in the world.&rdquo; &mdash;Outside Includes an introduction by Zito Madu</div>

Zito Madu
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Books By Zito Madu (1 Book)

The Minotaur at Calle Lanza

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