Description
Book SynopsisIn 2012 the African Writers Series celebrated its 50th anniversary. Africa Writes Back tells the publishing story behind some of the books and authors in the series. Africa Writes Back was published in 2008 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the publication of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart - the novel which provided the impetus for the foundation of the Heinemann African Writers Series in 1962 with Chinua Achebe as the Editorial Adviser. With the 60th anniversary of the AWS being celebrated in 2022, James Currey's book has a new resonance. '... not only the story of a publishing enterprise of great significance; it is also a large part of the story of African literature and its dissemination in the latter half of the twentieth century. The manuscript is full of the drama of that enterprise, the drama of dealing with the mother house, William Heinemann, of dealing with the often intractable political constraints dominating the intellectual space across Africa, and not least of all dealing with the writers themselves - with their ambitions,their temperaments, their financial needs and, at time, their perception of a colonial relationship between themselves and a European publishing house.' - Clive Wake, Emeritus Professor of Modern Languages, University of Kent at Canterbury. North America: Ohio U Press; Ghana: Sub-Saharan Publishers; South Africa: Wits U Press; Nigeria: HEBN; Kenya: EAEP; Zimbabwe: Weaver Press
Trade ReviewA delectable record of a period in the growth of African literature. Teachers of the discipline will use it as a handy reference while discussing the historical development of African writing. Researchers, bibliographers, archivists, and teachers of writing, book processing, and publishing will also find it a very useful companion text to consult. * AFRICAN AFFAIRS *
An essential resource for those interested in 20th-century African literature by a man who played an important role in its distribution. * AL-AHRAM WEEKLY *
A fascinating read and an irreplaceable reference. * RESEARCH IN AFRICAN LITERATURES *
[A] magnificent book....There is so much in this record of fifty years of African publishing to enjoy and be deeply informed by. There are fascinating portraits of a wide range of authors. [...] This extraordinarily intimate and informed story of one of the most enterprising and important publishing initiatives of C20th brings the processes and the personalities of African literary publishing richly to life. It is a remarkable and triumphant tale, told with wit, wisdom and dedication. * LEEDS AFRICAN STUDIES BULLETIN *
A fascinating and highly entertaining book. Rich in anecdotal material on many of Africa's best known writers, the book offers a narrative how the now famous series came together. All libraries with African studies and African literature collection interests will want to acquire this engrossing book, as will be those with collections on book, media and publishing studies. -- HANS M. ZELL
Every now and then a book comes along which encapsulates and defines a moment in history [...] Such a book is Africa Writes Back. * BUSINESS DAY LAGOS *
[A] brisk, meaty, anecdotal, clearly-shaped volume. * MOVING WORLDS *
Table of ContentsPublishing and selling the African Writers Series The African Writers Series Portfolio & George Hallett's covers Main dates for the African Writers SeriesINTRODUCTION: The establishment of African Literature Publishing Chinua Achebe 1. WRITERS FROM WEST AFRICA Nigeria: The country where so much started Negritude from Senegal to Cameroun Magic & realism from Ghana, The Gambia & Sierra Leone 2. WRITERS FROM EASTERN AFRICA Towards the oral & the popular in Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania Publishing Ngugi 3. WRITERS FROM THE HORN & NORTH-EASTERN AFRICA Emperors in Ethiopia Publishing Nuruddin Farah Arab authors in Egypt & Sudan 4. WRITERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA Resistance in South Africa Publishing Alex la Guma Publishing Dennis Brutus Publishing Bessie Head Publishing Masizi Kunene 5. WRITERS FROM SOUTHERN AFRICAN Guns & Guerrillas in Mozambique &Angola Zambia Shall be Free Death & detention in Malawi The struggle to become Zimbabwe Publishing Dambudzo Marechera CONCLUSION: Is there still a role for the African Writers Series?
