The Joys of Motherhood

Buchi Emecheta

Heinemann, 1994 - Fiction - 224 pages

This story of a young mother's struggles in 1950s Lagos is a powerful commentary on polygamy, patriarchy, and women's changing roles in urban Nigeria.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - Lukerik - LibraryThing

This is a fine novel. I wouldn't be surprised if it popped up on a school syllabus at some point. It's just packed full of themes, especially feminism, and she's such a sensitive and subtle writer ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - mahallett - LibraryThing

great story. the title is very ironic as Nnu ego has almost no joy in life and certainly not from her children. a life of duty in which she allowed herself no fun or joy. duty is her one focus. the ...

Contents

• The Mother: 7
• The Mothers Mother: 10
• The Mothers Early Life: 29
• First Shocks of Motherhood: 40
• A Failed Woman: 56
• A Man is Never Ugly: 63
• The Duly of a Father: 72
• The Rich and the Poor: 82
• A Mothers Investment: 101
• A Man Needs Many Wives: 111
• Sharing a Husband: 126
• Men at War: 141
• A Good Daughter: 151
• Women Alone: 156
• The Soldier Father: 170
• A Mother of Clever Children: 188
• A Daughters Honour: 198
• The Canonised Mother: 212

About the author

BUCHI EMECHETA was born in Nigeria and came to England in 1962. Her novels include In the Ditch, The Joys of Motherhood, Kehinde, Head Above Water, and Gwendolen.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Joys of Motherhood; Volume 227 of African writers series, ISSN 0065-4108
• Author: Buchi Emecheta
• Edition: reprint, reissue
• Publisher: Heinemann, 1994
• ISBN: 043590972X, 9780435909727
• Length: 224 pages
• Subjects: Fiction / General; Literary Collections / African