''People of the City'' is the
debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...
of
Cyprian Ekwensi
Chief Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi (26 September 1921 – 4 November 2007) was a Nigerian author of novels, short stories, and children's books.
Biography
Early life, education and family
Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi, an Igbo, was born in ...
first published in 1954 by Andrew Dakers Ltd. The novel was a predecessor to a number of other city novels in the Nigerian tradition.
Development
Ekwensi began writing the novel while studying
pharmacy on scholarship at the
University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...
.
The novel, originated as a series of stories broadcast on the radio, for West Africans living in Britain after World War II.
Critic Chidi Okonkwo, says that the primary influences for Ekwenksi when developing the novel and his writing style, included "Westerns, detective thrillers, oriental tales like
Arabian Nights", "European-hero-in-Africa" tales, like those of
H. Rider Haggard, adventure tales like
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll a ...
's, and Indian films."
Okonkwo describes these influences as obscuring Ekwensi's earlier experience translating African indigenous stories into English.
Style
The novel has a
didactic tone.
Themes
The novel challenges European colonial dominance in Africa.
Literary criticism
Early reception of the novel was generally positive, focusing on the urban setting.
References
1954 Nigerian novels
Novels by Cyprian Ekwensi
African Writers Series
1954 debut novels
Novels set in Nigeria
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