Description
Experience the profound narrative of 'When the Plums Are Ripe', a compelling novel that intricately weaves themes of war, colonial legacy, and national identity. Written by the acclaimed author Patrice Nganang, this book captures the poignancy of life in Cameroon as it delves into the effects of World War II on African nations. The protagonist, Pouka, reflects on a season cherished for its ripe plums, which serve as a backdrop for deeper explorations of violence and history.
As the story unfolds, readers are transported to a time when Cameroon found itself entangled in a global conflict, reflecting Nganang's brilliant lyrical style. The novel shines a light on the experiences of Senegalese infantrymen and the complexities of colonialism, presenting an African perspective often overlooked in typical historical narratives. With 368 pages filled with rich storytelling, 'When the Plums Are Ripe' is essential reading for those interested in post-colonial literature and African history.
Condition: BRAND NEW. ISBN: 9781250619617. Year: 2021. Publisher: St Martins Press. Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781250619617
Year: 2021
Publisher: St Martins Press
Pages: 368
Description:
In Cameroon, plum season is a highly anticipated time of year. But for the narrator of When the Plums Are Ripe, the poet Pouka, the season reminds him of the "time when our country had discovered the root not so much of its own violence as that of the world’s own, and, in response, had thrown its sons who at that time were called Senegalese infantrymen into the desert, just as in the evenings the sellers throw all their still-unsold plums into the embers." In this novel of radiant lyricism, Patrice Nganang recounts the story of Cameroon’s forced entry into World War II, and in the process complicates our own understanding of that globe-spanning conflict. After the fall of France in 1940, Cameroon found itself caught between Vichy and the Free French at a time when growing nationalism advised allegiance to neither regime, and was ultimately dragged into fighting throughout North Africa on behalf of the Allies.
Moving from Pouka’s story to the campaigns of the French general Leclerc and the battles of Kufra and Murzuk, Nganang questions the colonial record and recenters African perspectives at the heart of Cameroon’s national history, all the while writing with wit and panache. When the Plums Are Ripe is a brilliantly crafted, politically charged epic that challenges not only the legacies of colonialism but also the intersections of language, authority, and history itself.
As the story unfolds, readers are transported to a time when Cameroon found itself entangled in a global conflict, reflecting Nganang's brilliant lyrical style. The novel shines a light on the experiences of Senegalese infantrymen and the complexities of colonialism, presenting an African perspective often overlooked in typical historical narratives. With 368 pages filled with rich storytelling, 'When the Plums Are Ripe' is essential reading for those interested in post-colonial literature and African history.
Condition: BRAND NEW. ISBN: 9781250619617. Year: 2021. Publisher: St Martins Press. Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781250619617
Year: 2021
Publisher: St Martins Press
Pages: 368
Description:
In Cameroon, plum season is a highly anticipated time of year. But for the narrator of When the Plums Are Ripe, the poet Pouka, the season reminds him of the "time when our country had discovered the root not so much of its own violence as that of the world’s own, and, in response, had thrown its sons who at that time were called Senegalese infantrymen into the desert, just as in the evenings the sellers throw all their still-unsold plums into the embers." In this novel of radiant lyricism, Patrice Nganang recounts the story of Cameroon’s forced entry into World War II, and in the process complicates our own understanding of that globe-spanning conflict. After the fall of France in 1940, Cameroon found itself caught between Vichy and the Free French at a time when growing nationalism advised allegiance to neither regime, and was ultimately dragged into fighting throughout North Africa on behalf of the Allies.
Moving from Pouka’s story to the campaigns of the French general Leclerc and the battles of Kufra and Murzuk, Nganang questions the colonial record and recenters African perspectives at the heart of Cameroon’s national history, all the while writing with wit and panache. When the Plums Are Ripe is a brilliantly crafted, politically charged epic that challenges not only the legacies of colonialism but also the intersections of language, authority, and history itself.