| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in A Man of the People (Penguin Modern Classics) for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'A bitter yet funny satire... probably the best book to come out of West Africa.' Anthony Burgess "The Founding Father of the African novel in English" - The Guardian
Product Description
As Minister for Culture, the Honourable M. A. Nanga is 'a man of the people', as cynical as he is charming, and a roguish opportunist. At first, the contrast between Nanga and Odili, a former pupil who is visiting the ministry, appears huge. But in the 'eat-and-let-eat' atmosphere, Odili's idealism soon collides with his lusts - and the two men's personal and political tauntings threaten to send their country into chaos. Published, prophetically, just days before Nigeria's first attempted coup in 1966, A Man of the People is an essential part of his body of work dealing with modern African history.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Growing up in Nigeria, I had to read Chinua Achebe's books as part of the literature curriculum. At the time, I found his works to be mildly interesting; I did not think that they were arresting enough to merit further study. How wrong I was!
A Man of the People novel is set in Nigeria in the 1960's. The country had just gained independence from Great Britain, and elected its first post-colonial government, which is run by the proverbial `Big Men'. One of such `Big Men' is Chief the Honourable M. A. Nanga. Chief Nanga is not just any ordinary government hack; he is a charismatic, gifted politician who has a way with the people - and especially with the ladies. He is part of an entrenched, corrupt coterie that enrich themselves while in office, blatantly rig elections and silence opposition without recourse to law. Yet, Chief Nanga is loved by his constituents for his largesse, as he doles out the spoils of office to `his people'.
Enter Odili Samalu, a young well-educated, idealist. Odili, a former pupil of Chief Nanga's, is favoured by the Chief. Nanga invites Odili to the big city, where Odili spends time in Nanga's sumptuous home, is introduced into high society and generally has a jolly good time. Yes, Odili our austere idealist enjoys the high life that his relationship with Nanga offers him. However, Odili and Nanga quarrel over a woman and Odili determines to run against Nanga in the upcoming elections.
Achebe uses the ensuing David and Goliath contest to satirise the crass corruption of Nigeria's ruling elite. Whether using private militias to silence (or kill) political opponents or awarding inflated government contracts to themselves, Nigeria's government, personified in Chief Nanga, give corruption a new meaning, with the acquiescence of the people.
Achebe takes the art of storytelling to its acme; he kept me so captivated that I read the whole book in one night. I can think of many words to describe A Man of the people: sublime, witty, irreverent and insightful. A Man of the People is not just an indictment of Nigeria's post-independence elite; it is the story of a nation's slide into chaos.
The tone of the book is not all dark. Odili does beat Chief Nanga in the end - though not at the ballot box (I shall not spoil it for the reader). Perhaps, the book's bitter-sweet ending is a sign that Achebe has not lost all hope in Nigeria.
There are many reasons why Chinua Achebe ranks alongside Wole Soyinka and Nadine Gordimer as one of the greatest - if not the best - African writers of the 20th century. A Man of the People is a clear demonstration of Achebe's depth, wit, eye for detail and the ability to tell an engaging story using the simplest of words. This book is much more than history. It is an African story told by Africa's most gifted writer. Read this one for the sheer delight that it can stir up in you; A Man of the People deserves my 5 stars.
A Man of the People novel is set in Nigeria in the 1960's. The country had just gained independence from Great Britain, and elected its first post-colonial government, which is run by the proverbial `Big Men'. One of such `Big Men' is Chief the Honourable M. A. Nanga. Chief Nanga is not just any ordinary government hack; he is a charismatic, gifted politician who has a way with the people - and especially with the ladies. He is part of an entrenched, corrupt coterie that enrich themselves while in office, blatantly rig elections and silence opposition without recourse to law. Yet, Chief Nanga is loved by his constituents for his largesse, as he doles out the spoils of office to `his people'.
Enter Odili Samalu, a young well-educated, idealist. Odili, a former pupil of Chief Nanga's, is favoured by the Chief. Nanga invites Odili to the big city, where Odili spends time in Nanga's sumptuous home, is introduced into high society and generally has a jolly good time. Yes, Odili our austere idealist enjoys the high life that his relationship with Nanga offers him. However, Odili and Nanga quarrel over a woman and Odili determines to run against Nanga in the upcoming elections.
Achebe uses the ensuing David and Goliath contest to satirise the crass corruption of Nigeria's ruling elite. Whether using private militias to silence (or kill) political opponents or awarding inflated government contracts to themselves, Nigeria's government, personified in Chief Nanga, give corruption a new meaning, with the acquiescence of the people.
Achebe takes the art of storytelling to its acme; he kept me so captivated that I read the whole book in one night. I can think of many words to describe A Man of the people: sublime, witty, irreverent and insightful. A Man of the People is not just an indictment of Nigeria's post-independence elite; it is the story of a nation's slide into chaos.
The tone of the book is not all dark. Odili does beat Chief Nanga in the end - though not at the ballot box (I shall not spoil it for the reader). Perhaps, the book's bitter-sweet ending is a sign that Achebe has not lost all hope in Nigeria.
There are many reasons why Chinua Achebe ranks alongside Wole Soyinka and Nadine Gordimer as one of the greatest - if not the best - African writers of the 20th century. A Man of the People is a clear demonstration of Achebe's depth, wit, eye for detail and the ability to tell an engaging story using the simplest of words. This book is much more than history. It is an African story told by Africa's most gifted writer. Read this one for the sheer delight that it can stir up in you; A Man of the People deserves my 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a great book and a perfect introduction to the writing of Achebe if you are unaccustomed to him. It is not written too simply (something I have been known to criticise the writer for), and is full of wit and has an almost allegorical sub-text. Although set in the 1960s, the beauty of this book (paradoxically)is that it is virtually timeless insofar as the notion/persona of the 'big man' (personified here as Chief Nanga) and the corruption and havoc that these types wreak on Africa is still sadly with us today. However without ruining the plot, what I particularly like is that it shows what can happen when these people are confronted. Highly recommended.
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"A Man of the People" is an excellent book. It is set in the 1960s, just after Nigeria had been granted independence from Britain.
It follows the young, idealistic Mr Odili, a former student of Chief Nanga, MA, who has become a leading politician under a brutal Nigerian regime. Achebe's novel follows Odili as he uncovers corruption and attempts to take on his former master, Nanga, by forming his own party and challenging for a place in government.
"A Man of the People" is a very witty book, full of clever swipes at political systems (which can be related not just to African but the whole world) and is very intelligently written. Most of all, the ending will probably stay with the reader for a very long time.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant book
I have bought this again because it is one of those book's you lend out and never get back, but I must have a copy on my shelf for re-reading. Read more
Published 3 months ago by avidreaderlondon
Deconstruction of careerist politics
Achebe's `AMOTP' is a side-swipe at careerist politicians. It contrasts M.A. Nanga, a populist politician, with the political aspirations of Odili, a former protégé... Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2006 by Depressaholic
Exceptional Writing...
This book has some of the most clear, and refined writing I have ever read in the pages of a novel. Very descriptive, with a firm grasp of African society. Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2003
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
