Wole Soyinka

[Nikolai Fomich]

Has anyone ever read any of Wole Soyinka's plays or books?

He's a Nigerian intellecual and writer who won the Nobel Peace Prize in literature in the 70s. I really would like to read his book "The Interpreters," which tells the tale of six Nigerian intellectuals, some just returning to their country, and their views on the state of their nation.

I hear it's complex and interlaced and not unlike Joyce or Faulkner, so basically that means I'm never going to finish it. (Just kidding - I hope.)

[hellsapoppin]

I read his Aké: The Years of Childhood. A delightful book that makes for great reading.

[superunknown]

Nobel Peace Prize in literature
Uh, come again?

[Logos]

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1986/soyinka-bio.html

--

[superunknown]

Well, I know there's a Nobel Peace Prize, and a Nobel Prize in Literature, but I've never heard of the two combined!

Does sound interesting though. Speaking of Nigerian writers, have you read Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart?"

[kratsayra]

I've read two of Soyinka's plays - Death and the King's Horseman as well as The Swamp Dwellers. He's not really my cup of tea, but he is very important.

I didn't know that was the plot of The Interpreters, sounds like something I probably need to read for my work.

[hellsapoppin]

"Things Fall Apart" -- another great read. Okonkwo was a fascinating character.

In the USA, we too often neglect to read great books by African writers. I don't know why but hope this will change some day, soon.

[Kafka's Crow]

I read Ake and Things Fall Apart over 15 years ago. Can't recall much but the latter was a powerful read. Alan Paton (South African) is also a great African writer (in fact South Africa has a very rich literary history). Paton's Cry the Beloved Country is one of the best-known anti-apartheid books.

[johann cruyff]

Well, I know there's a Nobel Peace Prize, and a Nobel Prize in Literature, but I've never heard of the two combined!


I think that was just a mistake.Soyinka did win a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986,but he didn't win a Nobel Peace Prize.