JANE EYRE. By Charlotte Bronte

At first brush one is very much impressed that a young woman at the time - Charlotte Bronte -  could have written such a powerful book of hundreds of pages throbbing with so many rich characters and dialogue, startling emotions, disparate philosophies etc...but as an African reviewer, I realise that quite a number of our own writers have produced remarkable works at fairly young ages too. Like Ben Okri who was even much younger when he began writing his superb novels. And others like Achebe, Ngugi, Dangarembga, Ayi Armah, Ama Aidoo Soyinka, Emecheta, Marechera, were in their twenties when they produced excellent or at least creditable first works.

Yet having said that, Jane Eyre is a magnificent novel and one can appreciate its great success over the decades and centuries. The trajectory of the young protagonist's life is interesting and absorbing as she endures a torrid, sad childhood and much of her schooldays is tinged with tragedy too. 

As she starts to earn her keep as a governess, we appreciate the eccentric character of Rochester though it is clear enough that he has affection for Jane. We surmise that Jane must have felt a great deal of jealousy seeing her master cavorting with other women, yet her life is serene enough at this stage. But love takes its toll on us all!

There are many other interesting elements in this work as countless pundits have pointed out, with the Gothic ambience; mystery is integral to this as Jane’s heart is tentatively broken. We are reminded many times that she is no refulgent beauty, but apart from Rochester, St John also wants her as a wife. And he is not particularly romantic about it!

 But Jane is a woman of integrity and can not be coerced. Anyway, she and Rochester get together in the end, after he is ravaged and diminished. One can imagine the glee of Rochester when "his Jane" is restored to him, to bring companionship and delight into his life when all seems lost. Dear Reader, it brings tears to my African eyes!

- Henry Ozogula

ADVENTURES IN POWER. By Obafemi Awolowo

Top notch statesmen, politicians, key protagonists as their countries fought for independence and freedom fighters abound in Africa. Their lives always provide fascinating insights that continue to interest and grip generations of people and researchers all over the world. Happily enough, most of such people are or were avid readers and writers who also wrote books extensively about their lives and times. We have in mind here political gems like Kwame Nkrumah, Azikiwe, Mandela, Obasanjo, Senghor, Nyerere, Kaunda…

The illustrious Obafemi Awolowo of Nigeria also wrote many books which detailed his awesome vision, nous, and travails in politics over the decades. Adventures in power is one of such works and it is a fascinating read. What strikes one most is the utter integrity - some might dub it rigidity - of the author. No doubt he was straightforward to a fault and did not suffer fools gladly. It is also clear that he believed in absolute service to the people along the way. His candour can be frightening in consonance with his vision. Here he reflects in detail on how the old western region (Nigeria) found itself in the throes of political pandemonium and how he was in the eye of the storm, reaching a crescendo when he was incarcerated.

Whilst going through this work we are filled with revulsion at the shameless antics of certain people, the shocking opportunism and greed of so many individuals, as the protagonist here finds himself isolated, even betrayed by so many associates, yet he is unflinching and uncompromising. He reflects on a number of dignitaries and his fondness for ‘Timi de Law’ for one is patent, even as 'his family' makes the decision for him to leave Awolowo in the lurch as it were. It goes on - with powerful political enemies pitched against the author, erstwhile close associates now fierce antagonists!

Could the author have compromised and been much more flexible along the line? we wonder. But the narrative here shows that Chief Awolowo’s principles were extraordinary and he was ready to make any sacrifice as long as he did not compromise himself. He recalls or example that an aide took offence because he refused to accord his mistress recognition/importance...the author believed in the sanctity of a monogamous marriage. He points out that some opportunists who should have known better were unhappy with him because of his role as opposition leader at the national level. The author's great intellect, erudition, knowledge of classical literature, and languages like Latin - all is obvious here in this work. Although a lost battle, he shows his forensic skills in court too...he is of course a trained lawyer. The reader is devastated when such a great man finds himself in jail, as attempts are even made to destroy his legacy.

At the time this work was published, the author was of course very much a legendary, elderly figure, revered by millions of people for his services to the country and his remarkable integrity. His legacy then - and even now decades after - was markedly acknowledged including his belief and advocacy of free education, free health services, full employment etc , not to mention permanent signposts of infrastructure including iconic structures like the towering Cocoa House in Ibadan, the Liberty Stadium, and the introduction of the first television service in Africa. In this work, the author reinforces his personal mores, credo, modus operandi, practical proclivities, striations and travails of politics and public service. This book is as much a triumph as the life of Awolowo himself.

-          O Bolaji

ONE BRIGHT SUMMER MORNING. By James Hadley Chase

Riff and Chita – two young degenerates, both ruthless amoral and cruel. Actually they are blood twins – identical twins…Riff is male whilst Chita is female; yet though they are siblings this has not stopped them from sleeping with each other as we learn with disgust as this story unfolds…Actually this novel is about kidnapping, ransom and inevitable murders organized by Big Jack Kramer hitherto retired gangster who has come out of retirement. But Kramer and his aide, Moe need a couple of vicious youngsters to handle the dirty end of the operation and this is where Rita and Chita come in. Riff’s ruthlessness quickly ends in the first murder and things start to get out of control. A distinguished playwright and his wife- and baby – get involved in the whole nightmare…but at least at the end things unravel for all the gangsters. Chita dies a bizarre, ironical death. And Riff? A truly gruesome end for him…not that anyone would shed tears for him.
- Paul Lothane

GOWON: By J Isawa Elaigwu

GOWON: The Biography of a Soldier-Statesman

By J Isawa Elaigwu 

This is a breathtaking work, certainly a labour of love! A scholarly work of course – a biography of General Gowon of Nigeria; and the references, even after every chapter, are so copious that the ordinary man might wonder if it was even humanly possible to put all this together! A world class work that will stand the test of time forever. It is also priceless for research purposes, shedding scintillating life on Nigeria as a country and key personnel. Again, it is a masterclass on the plethora of coups in Nigeria over the decades and the pitiable Nigerian civil war that claimed so many casualties. Through it all, Gowon is a recurring factor and the reader suddenly realizes such a great, magnanimous, amiable, visionary leader like Gowon is probably undermined especially by new generations. The author consistently refers to Gowon as the Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria and Africa; and so it is – with the complement of Shakespearean undertones. That such a man could have emerged from Black Africa as it were is astonishing; and that a “man of the gun” (soldier) could be so humane beggars belief. But again and again we see evidence of this in this masterpiece of a work; especially his stance towards Ojukwu, erstwhile supremo of “Biafra”, and the Ibo at large after the civil war ends. One might even suggest that such a human being is pure work of fiction, but everything recorded here is true. It is no surprise that even as regards the meretricious stain on Gowon’s life – the possibility of involvement in the Dimka coup – the author pitches his tent with Gowon and it is clear that he does not believe Gowon could have been involved at all. The ordinary reader would hasten to agree in this wise with the author as he follows the trajectory of the protagonist’s life and realizes this is almost a Christ-like figure. This work is a tour de force, and how congenial it would be if other African academics can endeavour to put such a work together. One cannot but be delighted that these days, in his 80s, Gowon is very much back on a pedestal, which he richly deserves. A truly great man. But this more-than-excellent book shows us all that Gowon deserves even much more…more…

- Eric Malome

THE FIRM By John Grisham

This is a wonderful novel brimming with a plethora of characters who come to life devastatingly as the story unfolds. Of course there is Mitch the main protagonist (‘young lawyer’, as we say in Africa) and his beautiful wife, Abby. There is the elderly, sly, unctuous Oliver Lambert who is exposed early as a sick depraved man – also a lawyer. As he is referred to: “he said you were a real nice man. I thought you’d like that” . What an irony!

Then there is Nathan Blake, another veteran lawyer introduced deliciously. “It was the eyes, the cold black eyes with layers of black wrinkles around them. Great eyes. Unforgettable eyes. When he spoke, the eyes narrowed ad the black pupils glowed fiercely. Sinister eyes…He had without a doubt, the most ominous evil presence Mitch had ever felt. It was the eyes…”

Yes, we have a gallery of assorted lawyers in this work, also including the rather pathetic Avery, who also reiterates to Mitch the sinister nature of the “legal firm” here: ‘The rules never change. They are cast in concrete. Carved in granite. Etched in stone. Violate too many and you are out. Or violate as many as you want, but just don’t get caught,’

Then there is “Tammy”, the distinctive, resourceful woman whose role/contributions in this work is wonderfully commendable. Kudos to her as she is arguably the real hero(ine) of this excellent novel.

-        - Review by Henry Ozogula