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Weep Not, Child (Penguin African Writers Series) Paperback – June 5, 2012

by Ngugi wa Thiong'o (Author), Chinua Achebe (Series Editor), Ben Okri (Introduction)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 427 ratings
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The Nobel Prize–nominated Kenyan writer’s powerful first novel

Two brothers, Njoroge and Kamau, stand on a garbage heap and look into their futures: Njoroge is to attend school, while Kamau will train to be a carpenter. But this is Kenya, and the times are against them: In the forests, the Mau Mau is waging war against the white government, and the two brothers and their family need to decide where their loyalties lie. For the practical Kamau, the choice is simple, but for Njoroge the scholar, the dream of progress through learning is a hard one to give up.

The first East African novel published in English, Weep Not, Child explores the effects of the infamous Mau Mau uprising on the lives of ordinary men and women, and on one family in particular.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Penguin African Writers
  2. Print length
    176 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Penguin Classics
  5. Publication date
    June 5, 2012
  6. Dimensions
    7.68 x 4.96 x 0.43 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    9780143106692
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0143106692
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

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

“One of the signal novels to emerge from an artist listening to both the well of tradition and the troubled oracles of his time . . . In Weep Not, Child, Ngugi’s art is at its purest. To my mind it is classic Ngugi, his Romeo and Juliet, his tale of young love set against the backdrop of opposing families and a world seething with violence and injustice.” —Ben Okri, from the Introduction

About the Author

Ngugi wa Thiong'o is an award-winning novelist, playwright, and essayist from Kenya whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. He lives in Irvine, California, where he is Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine.

Ben Okri won the Booker Prize in 1991 for his novel The Famished Road. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and lives in London.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0143106694
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; Reprint edition (June 5, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780143106692
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143106692
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.68 x 4.96 x 0.43 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 427 ratings

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Ngugi wa Thiongo

Ngugi wa Thiongo

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
427 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

JSteele
5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, moving, human tale of family and tradition
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
A very simple tale, foreign to us as Westerners, yet understandable and powerful. Shows humanity in an Africa of tradition, family, land and spirituality, and hope. Very moving, a quick read that can be pondered over …
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Junelle Preston
5.0 out of 5 stars An imaginative tale
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2023
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A deep and nuanced story so well written
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Deogratias Rweyemamu
4.0 out of 5 stars Great literature covering pre-independence Kenya
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2017
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This is the author's second book am reading. I had read the River Between in high school. I'm glad that on this second reading I am more appreciative of his work.

Set in the background of pre-independence Kenya, this is indeed precious literature. You're more likely to hear myths and unfounded stories than come across a book written in the 1950s and 1960s - by an African writer.

The author narrates the novel around political violence, colonialism, adolescence and an implied love story. What I found most interesting though is stories of how families participated in the rebellion against colonialism, particularly the Mau Mau uprising. History is structured in a way that shines more light on heroes such as Jomo Kenyatta, but while they gave the face to the struggle, these families did most of the groundwork. They paved the way for African independence, and their stories deserve as much attention.

I applaud the author for trying to use African language for a good part of the book. We may have a wider base of readers when African literature is written in English, but we may also end up losing many of our languages while doing so. And I doubt that some African stories, proverbs and songs have an English translation at all.

I look forward to reading more of Ngugi wa Thiong'o's books in the near future.
6 people found this helpful
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Elizabeth Geitz
5.0 out of 5 stars An Engaging, Instructive Read for All Who Care About Africa
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2015
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Weep Not, Child is sadly an all-too-common African story. The book takes place in Kenya in the midst of the Mau Mau rebellion, but it could be set in almost any sub-Saharan African country with or without a rebellion. It is a tale of one young man's hopes and dreams that an education will lift him and his family out of poverty, giving him a chance to save himself, his family, and yes, his country. But the reality of life in a developing nation, long under colonial rule, soon overwhelms.

The strong desire by the young African to obtain a secondary/high school education runs throughout the book making it an instructive read for all who long to make a difference in Africa today.
Elizabeth Geitz
Chair, Good Shepherd Sustainable Learning Foundation
focused on secondary education in Cameroon, West Africa
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indooroopillykid
3.0 out of 5 stars I had a difficult time following the time lines in this story. I believe this story did not stop here.
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
The time lines in this story are hard to follow. The end of the story was not true. The Kenyans have continued to progress in running their country. Education has, in fact made a positive difference in their lives. Hope in God is never lost. Our expectations or interpretations may be incorrect but God is always true.
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Jennifer Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Intense
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2021
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This book was beautiful and powerful and moving. The writing is amazing, of course, but the quality never diminishes the emotional impact. It's compelling and impossible to put down; I literally read straight through this book in the span of three hours, voraciously devouring it. Highly recommend, probably the most enjoyable class reading I've ever done.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazing Grace
5.0 out of 5 stars Heart breaking and Inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2017
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A personal experience of growing up with the devastating impact of British colonialism in Kenya. The main character allows you into his personal life, feelings, hopes, dreams, sadness and trauma.
7 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read, Good Story
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2018
Verified Purchase
The book is an easy read. We read it for class. It's a short story about a boy growing up in Kenya. A lot of sad things happen to him but he is always optimistic... That is, until the end.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Julia Sharonova
5.0 out of 5 stars Changing prospective
Reviewed in Germany on September 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
Loved it! I read it while traveling through Kenya. It helped enormously to change prospectives and see the country, the events and how the people seen each other back then. Short read with excellently described thoughts, hopes and hesitations of the characters.
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972347234
4.0 out of 5 stars Yes Penguin I do not like the quality of your books
Reviewed in India on July 9, 2018
Verified Purchase
One star less only for Penguin! Yes Penguin I do not like the quality of your books. Poor font, poor paper quality and not worth the price I pay for. For this price I'd rather have a hardbound book. Now, getting to the part of the writing. Mind blown. I have always been a fan of African writers, but this author is just another level. If you find a better copy of the book go buy it, else you can try this one. Post colonial writing has never been better adn students of Lit can go on and on about this
3 people found this helpful
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R.K.
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2016
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As a Kenya born, now living in England for more than fifty years, I have always been interested in Mau Mau. I had some idea abut it which was formed during the colonial time. I was always interested to know about it from an African point view, especially from the Kikuyu point of view. This book and 'A grain of Wheat' by the same author has given me a very good idea about how and why the movement started and what were the consequences. Ngugi wa Thiongo is a brilliant writer and I have ordered another of his book, 'Dreams in a Time of War.' My only criticism is that the author has fallen into the trap of other colonial writers in portraying the Indians in a very disparaging manner instead of giving them their proper due in the development and struggle for the freedom of Kenya.
3 people found this helpful
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Chevalier
5.0 out of 5 stars super
Reviewed in France on November 25, 2013
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Un très beau roman de littérature africaine en langue anglaise. L'auteur rend compte avec brio des préoccupations des tribus dans ces anciennes colonies britanniques.
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Kindleユーザー
5.0 out of 5 stars アフリカ文学
Reviewed in Japan on April 21, 2006
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今まであまり触れる機会のなかったアフリカ文学ですが、欧米以外の作品も英語で読んでみたいと思って見つけた本がこれでした。

舞台は独立闘争のころのケニヤ、教育が人生と国を変えると信じて、村から始めて高校に進学するNjorogeの物語です。

簡約版のため全体に心理描写などはかなり割愛されているかと思いますが、当時の厳しい現実と青年の理想との葛藤がよく伝わってきます。

いつか原書で呼んでみたい作品です
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