This book, an uncompromising critique of capitalism through fiction, is one of the cornerstones of the international fame achieved by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. Here, he narrates the tragic story of Warĩnga, a young woman who moves from a rural town in Kenya to the capital, Nairobi. There, she falls victim to exploitation by her employer and, later, by a corrupt businessman.
As she struggles to survive, the protagonist begins to realize that her problems are merely symptoms of a broader social discontent and that many of her woes stem from the corrosive influences her country faces from the West. The Kenyan author, with The Devil on the Cross, raised a passionate cry for the liberation of his homeland from dictatorship and for Africans to be able to create in their local dialects.
An emblematic work that has had a profound impact on an entire continent and on post-colonial literature worldwide. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o wrote this particular novel about the importance of building dreams while he was imprisoned, secretly and on toilet paper.
“Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is among the great writers of our time.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“The Devil on the Cross is one of the most important novels of the twentieth century.” Tribune
“A stunning and riveting read.” The Guardian
“It is no coincidence that Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is at the forefront of African writers. He has paved new paths for African writing with his books.” British Book News
