Description |
210 pages ; 22 cm |
Contents |
English dreams, communist fantasies, and American wrestling -- Never look an American in the eye -- My commission and a chilly American reception -- Sleepless in New York -- Nigerian, going Dutch -- Fitting the description -- Are you okay? -- A Norwegian "Okay" interlude -- On a croc's back, America-bound -- Will edit for food -- Lying to be a writer -- Writing, reading, food, some ass kicking -- A brand-new American -- An African folktale, a Wall Street lesson -- A dying father, dreams of Burma and England -- Wole Soyinka saves my Christmas -- Crashing a party, changing hearts. |
Summary |
"Okey Ndibe's funny, charming, and penetrating memoir tells of his move from Nigeria to America, where he came to edit the influential--but forever teetering on the verge of insolvency--African Commentary magazine. It recounts stories of Ndibe's relationships with Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and other literary figures; examines the differences between Nigerian and American etiquette and politics; recalls an incident of racial profiling just 13 days after he arrived in the US, in which he was mistaken for a bank robber; considers American stereotypes about Africa (and vice-versa); and juxtaposes African folk tales with Wall Street trickery. All these stories and more come together in a generous, encompassing book about the making of a writer and a new American"-- Provided by publisher. |
Subject |
Ndibe, Okey, 1960-
|
|
Authors, Nigerian -- 21st century -- Biography.
|
|
Novelists, American -- 21st century -- Biography.
|
|
Nigerian Americans -- Biography.
|
|
Journalists -- United States -- Biography.
|
|
College teachers -- United States -- Biography.
|
|
Nigeria -- Civilization -- 21st century -- Anecdotes.
|
|
United States -- Civilization -- 21st century -- Anecdotes.
|
|
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY -- Personal Memoirs.
|
|
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY -- Literary.
|
Genre/Form |
Autobiographies.
|
|
Anecdotes.
|
ISBN |
9781616957605 (hardback) |
|
1616957603 (hardback) |
|