Efuru

Efuru

Product Description Flora Nwapas first novel plants her story firmly in the world of women, where Efuru, beautiful and respected, is loved and deserted by two ordinary, undistinguished husbands. Review It is rare to find a book by a native Nigerian woman in print in the United States. Efuru is even more noteworthy because with this book, in 1966, Flora Nwapa became the first native Nigerian woman to be published in Nigeria and the first non-white African woman to be published in England. Efuru explores Nigerian village life and values, a world where spirits are a part of everyday life - as accepted, respected, and feared as ones own relatives. Efuru, a highly respected woman of her village, carries on the family tradition of treating others well and is successful as a trader. Yet her personal life is mired with tragedy: she has two unsuccessful marriages and her only child dies. In her village, a single, childless woman is a cause for fear, and the villagers begin to gossip, a favorite and powerful pastime. They question her good deeds and wonder what she has done to upset the spirits, whose influence and power are at the center of their lives. In her struggle to understand all that has happened to her Efuru seeks the advice of the dibias, village doctors, and finds her spiritual guide and the path she must follow. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out . -- From ; review by Holly Smith