Wizard of the Crow: Summary and book reviews of Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, plus links to an excerpt from Wizard of the Crow and a biography of Ngugi wa Thiong'o.

From the exiled Kenyan novelist, playwright, poet, and literary critic--a magisterial comic novel that is certain to take its place as a landmark of postcolonial African literature. In exile now for more than twenty years, Ngugi wa Thiong’o has become one of the most widely read African writers of our time, the power and scope of his work garnering him international attention and praise. His aim in Wizard of the Crow is, in his own words, nothing less than “to sum up Africa of the twentieth century in the context of two thousand years of world history.” Commencing in “our times” and set in the “Free Republic of Aburiria,” the novel dramatizes with corrosive humor and keenness of observation a battle for control of the souls of the Aburlrian people. Among the contenders: His High Mighty Excellency; the eponymous Wizard, an avatar of folklore and wisdom; the corrupt Christian Ministry; and the nefarious Global Bank. Fashioning the stories of the powerful and the ordinary into a dazzling mosaic, Wizard of the Crow reveals humanity in all its endlessly surprising complexity. Informed by richly enigmatic traditional African storytelling, Wizard of the Crow is a masterpiece, the crowning achievement in Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s career thus far.

BookBrowse

Wizard is a vast, sprawling, satirical allegory, written in 6 parts, which is already being considered by many to be Ngugi wa Thiong'o's magnus opus. Some reviewers feel that it is overly long and repetitious and a tad didactic, but that is perhaps to lose sight of the fact that it wasn't written in a Western language or, in the first instance, for a Western audience, but for a Kenyan audience still familiar with the oral tradition - in Kenya his works are often read aloud over a period of (many!) days.  (Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).

Full Review (1159 words).

Media Reviews

San Francisco Chronicle - David Hellman Wizard of the Crow may improve his status, but only for those willing to wrestle with its incredibly demanding text. Nevertheless, the novel has many rewards for those willing to face its challenges .... The novel is full of moments that are entirely predictable and others that appear to pop out of nowhere. From an ingrained Western perspective this could be annoying, which could lead to this novel not receiving the recognition it deserves. But to enjoy this book readers should first abandon any expectations they may have of literature and just surrender themselves to the story.   The New York Times Book Review - Jeff Turrentine Ngugi writes simply and unaffectedly about his characters and the cartoonish trouble in which they land. It’s hard to think of another recent novel so heavily steeped in oral traditions; at the level of language and cadence it recalls a long yarn told by firelight. Strange, then, that Wizard of the Crow should lack the distilled smoothness of a story passed down over many generations." -   The New Yorker - John Updike Such readers would do well to remember that it is a translation from a language whose narrative traditions are mostly oral and heavy on performance; the tale is fantastic and didactic, told in broad strokes of caricature ..... The author of this bulky book offers more indignation than analysis in his portrait of postcolonial Africa ..... (S)even hundred and sixty-six pages of fiction too aggrieved and grim to be called satire .... The narrative, then, is a journey without a destination, and its characters are improv artists. This ambitious, long-mulled attempt to sustain the spell of oral narrative in an era of electro-visual distractions leaves the Wizard where the reader finds him, up in the air.   The Washington Post - Aminatta Forna A great, spellbinding tale, probably the crowning glory of Ngugi's life's work.   Library Journal Folkloric in sweep and satirical in tone, this hefty novel can be challenging for those lacking a taste for allegory or unfamiliar with modern African politics.   Kirkus Reviews A remarkable book, sure to be widely read. Suffice it to say that things don't turn out as the dictator - or we - expected.   Publishers Weekly Starred Review....a sometimes lurid, sometimes lyrical reflection on Africa's dysfunctions—and possibilities.   The Economist Funny if messy. ... Aburiria is recognisable as Africa in all its splendour, squalor, economic malaise and venality, but it comes with more than a touch of magical realism .... Despite the book's faults, it is hard not to be cheered by the spirit of gentle resistance that is at its core, in defiance of everyday greed.   The Guardian - Maya Jaggi Yet for all its grotesque hyperbole, Wizard of the Crow struck me as truthful in its dissection of power, and remarkably free of bitterness. At more than 700 pages, its flaws, of obsessive reiteration and prolixity, arise partly from its bold experimentation with oral forms, and from giving rein to the pathologies of the corrupt at the expense of the more intimate dilemmas of those who challenge them. But the poisonousness of its targets never infects the author's vision, nor his faith in people's power to resist. Perhaps that in itself is a triumph.   Times (London) Literary Supplement - Andrew van der Vlies By turns witty and wise, beguiling and exasperating, this is Ngugi's most barbed (even bitter) satire on the betrayal of independence by corrupt governments in neo-colonial Africa.   The Scotsman - Tom Adair At best the prose is limber. At worst it is lax. But there is method in his laxity. He mimics the oral storytelling of his continent. The eye of the story is restless, it darts and backtracks, it brims with wise sayings ....This is a book about choosing sides. A book above all about the individual's responses to moral dilemmas .... It's a book of wonderful purple phases (the greatest lyrical description of making love I have ever read, a marvellous evocation of wilderness), but at almost 800 pages it should be serialised for consumption, not swallowed whole.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by Ugwuja, Amaechi Alex
WIZARD OF THE CROW
Ngugi has clearly shown in this breath-taking piece that he is not only a master in creative writing but undeniably an Africa ideologue. in treating despotism with a tinge of good humor, he shows that literature must instruct and entertain.

Rated of 5 by Dr. C. Channappa
Modern Epic
Wizard of the Crow is a modern epic. Ngugi combines traditional values and modern confrontations very strongly. The merit lies in his use of oratory. The novel shows his wide knowledge of Indian epics such as the Ramayana and medicines. Read once...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Dominic J Kanaventi
The Wizard of the Crow - The Music of African Oral Art.
Ngugi has done those of us who might not not understand the rich African culture of oral story-telling a big favor by putting pen to paper and telling this wonderful story. If only the wonderful fellow reviewers who contribute to this column...   Read More

Rated of 5 by mbone muks
feminist pespective
Ngugi Wa Thiongo's Wizard of the crow provides a stunning portrayal of the feminine quest. It presents the woman as a very powerful and extremely determined person. Judging from my reading of this text, the woman is the pivot of the book. If she...   Read More

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