The Twelve Best Books by African Women: Critical Readings (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780896802667)

In 2002, at the annual Zimbabwe International Book Fair, twelve literary books by African women were included for the first time in the category of "Africa's 100 Best Books of the Twentieth Century." This was an important but belated affirmation of women writers on the continent and a first step toward establishing a recognized canon of African women's literature.

The Twelve Best Books by African Women is a collection of critical essays on eleven works of fiction and one play. The titles by African women that were included in the list of "Africa's 100 Best Books of the Twentieth Century" are: Anowa, Ama Ata Aidoo (1970); A Question of Power, Bessie Head (1974); Woman at Point Zero, Nawal El Saadawi (1975); The Beggars' Strike, Aminata Sow Fall (1979); Burger's Daughter, Nadine Gordimer (1979); The Joys of Motherhood, Buchi Emesheta (1979); So Long a Letter, Mariama Bâ (1980); Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade, Assia Djebar (1983); Nervous Conditions, Tsitsi Dangarembga (1988); Living, Loving and Lying Awake at Night, Sindiwe Magona (1991); Butterfly Burning, Yvonne Vera (1998); Riwan ou le chemin de sable, Ken Bugul (1999).

This collection of original essays recognizes the gesture of inclusion as an important shift in consciousness and creates a fresh awareness of the literary works by African women writers. Each essay offers a penetrating analysis of individual texts and opens up a fresh perspective that allows scholars and students alike to explore new dimensions of these writers' work.

Author: Chikwene Okonjo Ogunyemi
ISBN-10: 0896802663
ISBN-13: 9780896802667
Publisher: Ohio University Press
Language: English
Published: 07/01/2009
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.80d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 02/01/2010
Multicultural Review 08/01/2010 pg. 43
Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2009 pg. 265