17 June 1958 was the date of publication of the hardback of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart by Heinemann. This provided the impetus for the foundation of the paperback African Writers Series in 1962 with Chinua Achebe as its Editorial Adviser. This narrative, drawing liberally on the correspondence with the authors, concentrates on the adventurous first twenty-five years.
In 1962, Heinemann Press in London brought out a novel by an African author, Chinua Achebe, and the African Writers Series was born. Currey, a publisher of African books who worked on the series for many years, presents a memoir of the first twenty-five years of the series. He gives mini biographies of the people involved, both publishers and authors, and relates the circumstances around the publication of the most important books. He divides his book by region, noting political changes in Africa that added to normal publishing concerns. The series published both original works in English and translations from native African languages, Arabic and French. It was responsible for a new form of literature being introduced to Anglophones all over the world. The series also gave Africans a voice and, by extension, an international identity. The series foundered in the late eighties with the collapse of African economies but still continues to publish. It also provided an incentive to others, like Currey, to carry on their work. This is an interesting background to an important literary movement. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
June 17, 2008, is the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart by Heinemann. This publication provided the impetus for the foundation of the African Writers Series in 1962 with Chinua Achebe as the editorial adviser.
Africa Writes Back: The African Writers Series and the Launch of African Literature captures the energy of literary publishing in a new and undefined field. Portraits of the leading characters and the many consultants and readers providing reports and advice to new and established writers make Africa Writes Back a stand-out book. James Curreys voice and insights are an added bonus.
CONTENTS
Publishing and selling the African Writers Series
The African Writers Series Portfolio & George Halletts covers
Main dates for the African Writers Series
INTRODUCTION: The establishment of African Literature
Publishing Chinua Achebe
1. WRITERS FROM WEST AFRICA
Nigeria: The country where so much started
Negritude from Senegal to Cameroun
Magic & realism from Ghana, The Gambia & Sierra Leone
2. WRITERS FROM EASTERN AFRICA
Towards the oral & the popular in Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania
Publishing Ngugi
3. WRITERS FROM THE HORN & NORTH-EASTERN AFRICA
Emperors in Ethiopia
Publishing Nuruddin Farah
Arab authors in Egypt & Sudan
4. WRITERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Resistance in South Africa
Publishing Alex la Guma
Publishing Dennis Brutus
Publishing Bessie Head
Publishing Masizi Kunene
5. WRITERS FROM SOUTHERN AFRICAN
Guns & Guerrillas in Mozambique &Angola
Zambia Shall be Free
Death & detention in Malawi
The struggle to become Zimbabwe
Publishing Dambudzo Marechera
CONCLUSION: Is there still a role for the African Writers Series?
Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart provided the impetus for the foundation of Heinemanns African Writers Series in 1962 with Achebe as the editorial adviser. Africa Writes Back presents portraits of the leading characters and the many consultants and readers providing reports and advice to new and established writers.
