You Must Set Forth at Dawn: A Memoir

by Wole Soyinka

Book Overview

The first African to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, as well as a political activist of prodigious energies, Wole Soyinka now follows his modern classic Ake: The Years of Childhood with an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 037550365X
• ISBN13: 9780375503658
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 499 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A good read from the literary genius

For those who have a fixed mindset that Professor's books are tough read, then you might skip this. It not a difficult read but he expounds his struggle to fix a nation in his own corner and how he carried his influence throughout his adulthood. As a Nigerian with huge respect for his person, Wole Soyinka explains his web of influence with emphasis on Femi Johnson (a close friend), his sojourns in civil war, brazil and his Nobel prize. His place in saving the Nigerian project and how he tried to rescue it from psychpaths. He use of language was never mild on military dictators and his use of words is compelling.To describe him as pompous seems self serving, our avatar is telling his story. A good read....try it with much patience

Memoir of a African writer, crusader, and Nobel winner

Memoir - a written record of a usually famous person's own life and experiences. I present the following as a rebuttal to the often cited criticism found among these reviews. When one reads a memoir, one should expect the author to write of his own thoughts, feelings and experiences. For a hundred pages, or so, I found W.S. writing about himself a bit off-putting, however, by the end of the book I had come to like, admire, and respect him. This is a book about a highly accomplished African and the events that defined him in the eyes of the world. His must be one of the most positive stories to come out of Africa in the 20th century. The prominent role he played in the political history of Nigeria is quite incredible. It is hard to imagine a writer/playwright/poet and social critic having a similar impact in the U.S.A. This is also a history of post-independence Nigeria, albeit from the somewhat narrow perspective of W.S. While the book may lack the scope of a dedicated, general history, it does show events from a very personal perspective. You almost feel as if you are a fly on the wall as W.S. maneuvers in the Nigerian political arena.

Captivating read!

This is my first taste of Soyinka's work, except for the few scenes of "The Lion and The Jewel" I gleaned many years ago. I haven't read many autobiographies, but this is without question one of the best I have read. Solidly written, with a plethora of hilarious, as well as sobering anecdotes, and a masterful deployment of literary devices, this, surely is a chef-d'oeuvre. However, this book is not only an autobiography but an excellent historical account of Nigeria's political history since independence in 1960. Catapulted right into the middle of the action and intrigue that took hold of the nation, I learned new things and gained a lot of useful insight into how the nation became to be what it is today and the various roles of those involved in shaping its destiny. I grabbed this book because I wanted to learn more about the history of my country from the mouth of a seasoned literary figure. I was astounded to discover that he was completely involved in the struggle right from the beginning. What is more, I was rewarded with a distinctive literary style and all the rewards it brings - new vocabulary, new expressions, and more knowledge. And I completely disagree with those who complain that Soyinka is too wordy and dawdles over many unnecessary details before getting to the real thing. What real thing are they searching for, anyway? This, after all, is a memoir. Moreover, every page, every word was an absolute treat. Of course, I do not necessarily agree with all his ideologies, but his honest style through which he sometimes seems to contradict himself, is but a true reflection of how the human mind works. Highly recommended, and you can be sure to be rewarded with far more than you intially expected at the end of this book.

A must read for those interested in Nigerian history since independence

Mr. Soyinka, masterfully uses his life as a running commentary for the state of political affairs in Nigeria since 1960. While the book does speak on a lot of serious issues there are many moments of hilarity such as when W.H Auden passes him off as an African Prince and the quest to recover an acient mask that led Mr. Soyinka to Brazil. Mr. Soyinka's style tends to be a little heavy on grammar but overall it is a great book, one that I am happy to have bought.

Life, art and politics

Soyinka skilfully offers refreshing glimpses into his life as a humble, honest and courageous individual. He is deeply spiritual but definitely not a holier-than-thou prude. Soyinka's infectious enjoyment of life comes across in his passion for hunting, wine, music, art and, of course, women. It seems that it is this enduring appreciation of the immense possibilities of life that drives his resistance to dictatorship and systems that seek to rob the individual of the opportunity to partake in the sacrement of life. The man, his art and his politics are inseperable.