Petals of Blood

Author: wa Thiong'o, Ngugi

Brand: Penguin

Color: Multicolor

Edition: Reprint

Binding: paperback

Number Of Pages: 432

Release Date: 22-02-2005

Part Number: 9780143039174

Details: Product Description
“The definitive African book of the twentieth century” (Moses Isegawa, from the Introduction) by the Nobel Prize–nominated Kenyan writer

The puzzling murder of three African directors of a foreign-owned brewery sets the scene for this fervent, hard-hitting novel about disillusionment in independent Kenya. A deceptively simple tale,
Petals of Blood is on the surface a suspenseful investigation of a spectacular triple murder in upcountry Kenya. Yet as the intertwined stories of the four suspects unfold, a devastating picture emerges of a modern third-world nation whose frustrated people feel their leaders have failed them time after time.

First published in 1977, this novel was so explosive that its author was imprisoned without charges by the Kenyan government. His incarceration was so shocking that newspapers around the world called attention to the case, and protests were raised by human-rights groups, scholars, and writers, including James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Donald Barthelme, Harold Pinter, and Margaret Drabble.
Review
“One of the greatest writers of our time.” —
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Guardian

“His novels . . . have been deservedly canonized by the iconic [Penguin Classics] series.” —
The Wall Street Journal

“Ambitious, caustic, and impassioned.” —
The New Yorker
 
“A mind-blowing political statement, an anguished cry of despair . . . a bombshell.” —
The Weekly Review (Kenya)
About the Author
Ngugi wa Thiong’o was born in Limuru, Kenya, in 1938. One of the leading African writers and scholars at work today, he is the author of many novels, short stories, essays, a memoir, and several plays, and recipient of numerous high honors. Currently he is Distinguished Professor in the School of Humanities and director of the International Center for Writing and Translation at the University of California, Irvine.


Moses Isegawa was born in Uganda and is the author of the novels
Abyssinian Chronicles and
Snakepit.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Part One: Walking . . .
And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that
sat thereon had a bow: and there was given unto him a crown:
and he came forth conquering, and to conquer . . .
And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that
sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, that they should
slay one another: and was there given unto him a great sword . . .
And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon
had a balance in his hand . . .
And I saw, and behold, a pale horse: and he that sat
upon him, his name was Death . . .
And there was given unto them authority over the fourth part of
earth, to kill with sword and with famine, and with death.
Revelation, Chapter 6
The people scorn’d the ferocity of kings . . .
But the sweetness of mercy brew’d destruction, and the frighten’d monarchs come back;
Each comes in state, with his train – hangman, priest, tax-gatherer,
Soldier, lawyer, lord, jailer, and sycophant.
Walt Whitman
Chapter One
1 ~ They came for him that Sunday. He had just returned from a night’s vigil on the mountain. He was resting on his bed, Bible open at the Book of Revelation, when two police constables, one tall, the other short, knocked at the door.
‘Are you Mr Munira?’ the short one asked. He had a star-shaped scar above the left brow.
‘Yes.’
‘You teach at the New Ilmorog Primary School?’
‘And where do you think you are now standing?’
‘Ah, yes. We try to be very sure. Murder, after all, is not irio or ugali.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘You are wanted at the New Ilmorog Police Station.’
‘About?’
‘Murder, of course – murder in Ilmorog.’
The tall one who so far had not spoken hastened to add: ‘It is nothing much, Mr Munira. Just routine questioning.’
‘Don’t explain. You are only doing your duty in this world. But let me put on my coat.’
They looked at one another, surprised at his cool reception of the news. He came back carrying the Ho

EAN: 9780143039174

Package Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.0 x 0.9 inches

Languages: English