Chinua Achebe and the Politics of Narration

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Thomas Jay Lynn

   Pages 1-22

3. An Adequate Revolution: Achebe Writes Africa Anew

   • Thomas Jay Lynn

   Pages 23-40

4. Of Flight, Fraud, and Freedom: Achebe’s Political Tricksters

   • Thomas Jay Lynn

   Pages 41-76

5. Language and Ambivalence in Achebe’s Writing

   • Thomas Jay Lynn

   Pages 77-95

6. Language and the Power of Subordination: Achebe’s Integration of Nigerian Pidgin

   • Thomas Jay Lynn

   Pages 97-110

7. Beyond Black and White: British Identity in Achebe’s Fiction

   • Thomas Jay Lynn

   Pages 111-125

8. Catastrophe, Aftermath, Amnesia: Chinua Achebe’s “Civil Peace”

   • Thomas Jay Lynn

   Pages 127-142

9. Unfolding Dialogue: Teaching Achebe’s Fiction

   • Thomas Jay Lynn

   Pages 143-165

10. Conclusion: The Ends of Narration

    • Thomas Jay Lynn

    Pages 167-170

11. Erratum to: Chinua Achebe and the Politics of Narration

    • Thomas Jay Lynn

    Pages E1-E1

12. Back Matter

    Pages 171-176

    PDF

This book examines vital intersections of narration, linguistic innovation, and political insight that distinguish Chinua Achebe’s fiction as well as his non-fiction commentaries. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of these intersections: Achebe’s narrative response to Western authors who have written on Africa, his integration of Igbo folklore, the political implications of writing African literature in English, his use of Nigerian Pidgin, and the Nigerian Civil War. It also addresses the teaching of Achebe’s works. Achebe drew on diverse resources to offer searching psychological and political insights that contribute not only a decidedly African political viewpoint to the modern novel, but also a more inclusive narrative consciousness. Achebe’s adaptations of Igbo oral art are intrinsic to his writing’s political engagement because they assert the integrity and authority of the African voice in a global order defined by colonialism. This book reveals how his work has helpedto restructure a global vision of Africa.

• Igbo
• Colonialism
• Violence
• Discourse
• Linguistics

“This first major study since Achebe’s death in 2013 re-envisions his six-decade career through the twin lenses of language and narration. Thomas Jay Lynn’s illuminating long perspective, which integrates discussion of Achebe’s fiction and nonfiction, offers new insights into Africa’s most iconic writer and the postcolonial politics of narration. Other distinguishing features include welcome chapters on the much-anthologized short story ‘Civil Peace’ and on cross-cultural strategies for teaching Achebe’s fiction. Comprehensive, lucid, and accessible, Chinua Achebe and the Politics of Narration: Envisioning Language will prove indispensable to scholars, teachers, and students alike.” (Dr Peter Blair, Senior Lecturer in English, University of Chester, UK)

“This welcome study reminds readers that Africa’s most famous novelist has been central to the continent’s literary preoccupations: corrupt politicians and resistant tricksters, colonizing language and oral creativity, subterranean incivility and carnivalesque release.  Throughout, Lynn shows the dangers of too easily overlooking the tense Janus-like gaze of this deceptively pellucid author, who always sees the complexity at the heart of everything.” (Professor John C. Hawley, Santa Clara University, USA)

• Penn State Berks , Reading, USA

  Thomas Jay Lynn

Thomas Jay Lynn is Associate Professor of English at Penn State Berks, USA. His scholarly and teaching interests include literature of Africa and the Diaspora, postcolonial literature, ancient literature, and folklore. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he is the Coordinator of the Associate Degree in Letters, Arts, and Sciences.

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