Africa Writes Back

June 17, 2008, is the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart by Heinemann. This publication provided the impetus for the foundation of the African Writers Series in 1962 with Chinua Achebe as the editorial adviser.Africa Writes Back: The African Writers Series and the Launch of African Literature captures the energy of literary publishing in a new and undefined field. Portraits of the leading characters and the many consultants and readers providing reports and advice to new and established writers make Africa Writes Back a stand-out book. James Currey's voice and insights are an added bonus.CONTENTSPublishing and selling the African Writers SeriesThe African Writers Series Portfolio & George Hallett's coversMain dates for the African Writers SeriesINTRODUCTION: The establishment of African LiteraturePublishing Chinua Achebe1. WRITERS FROM WEST AFRICANigeria: The country where so much startedNegritude from Senegal to CamerounMagic & realism from Ghana, The Gambia & Sierra Leone2. WRITERS FROM EASTERN AFRICATowards the oral & the popular in Kenya, Uganda & TanzaniaPublishing Ngugi3. WRITERS FROM THE HORN & NORTH-EASTERN AFRICAEmperors in EthiopiaPublishing Nuruddin FarahArab authors in Egypt & Sudan4. WRITERS FROM SOUTH AFRICAResistance in South AfricaPublishing Alex la GumaPublishing Dennis BrutusPublishing Bessie HeadPublishing Masizi Kunene5. WRITERS FROM SOUTHERN AFRICANGuns & Guerrillas in Mozambique &AngolaZambia Shall be FreeDeath & detention in MalawiThe struggle to become ZimbabwePublishing Dambudzo MarecheraCONCLUSION: Is there still a role for the African Writers Series?