Originally published in 1980, this book introduces the student to twelve of the most exciting and significant African authors of the 20th Century, whose work represents Anglophone and Francophone writing (with translation) drawn from West, East and Southern Africa. Twelve African Writers was a revised, updated and extended edition of the pioneering Seven African Writers which did so much to make students aware of African literature. The book also contains an extensive bibliography of the works not just of the selected writers, but other important African authors and recommendations of further critical works.
1. Assimiliation or Negritude Léopold Sédar Senghor 2. The Urban Outcast Ezekiel Mphahlele 3. The Primacy of Change Sembène Ousmane 4. The Aesthetic Vision Camara Laye 5. Through Suffering to Resistance Alex La Guma 6. Unless Tomorrow Chinua Achebe 7. The Uprooted Tree Tchicaya U Tam’si 8. The Horn of the Grasslands Okot p’Bitek 9. From Satire to Epic Mongo Beti 10. Across the Primeval Gulf Wole Soyinka 11. The Neglected Gods Kofi Awoonor 12. Towards Uhuru Ngugi wa Thiong’o.
Biography
Gerald Moore was a scholar of anglophone and francophone literature written by Africans. He spent many years teaching in Africa and Hong kong. At the University of Sussex he pioneered the study of developing world literatures as part of an integrated undergraduate programme.
Original Reviews of Twelve African Writers:
‘…this book is a major contribution not only to the evaluation of the work of the individual writers but also towards the assessment of African literature generally.’ Africa Journals.
‘It is impossible to read this book and not to be impressed by the richness and complexity of African literature.’ British Book News.
