"Wey Dehn Sey? Dehn Sey Kapu Sehns Nor Kapu Word (Knowledge is More than Mere Words): A Critical
Introduction to Sierra Leonean Literature," Edited by Eustace Palmer and Abioseh Michael Porter
2. "Of War and Women, Optimism and Oppression: New Essays on the African Novel," by Eustace Palmer
1. "Knowledge is More Than Mere Words" is the first critical assessment of Sierra Leonean Literature in general. After an introduction tracing the historical and literary context written by Eustace Palmer, there are fifteen chapters by ten native Sierra Leoneans, all of them currently professors of English at American universities, and all but one of them either graduates of, or former lecturers at, Fourah Bay College, the University of Sierra Leone. The book covers all the genres—the novel and short story, poetry, drama and folklore—as well as new forms of creative expression such as poetry on the internet. Major writers covered include Raymond Sarif Easmon, Syl Cheney-Coker, Yulisa Amadu Maddy, and Lemuel Johnson. There are chapers on Vernacular Drama as well as on new voices in the novel form. ISBN9781592216451, 368 pages.
2. "Of War and Women, Optimism and Oppression: New Essays on the African Novel" brings Professor Palmer’s critical coverage of the African Novel(which he had done in two earlier books)up date, discussing the various trends discernioble in the African novel since the 1970s. He analyzes war novels; novels by women writers such as Buchi Emecheta, Mariama Ba, Tsitsi Dangrembga, Bessie Head and Nawal Al Saadawi; novels of social comment such as Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah, Okri’s The Famished Road, Syl Cheney-Coker’s The Last Harmattan of Alusine Dunbar and Benjamin Kwakye’s The Sun By Night; and novels by Sierra Leonean writers such as Yema Lucilda Hunter, Prince Dowu Palmer, Alasan Mansaray and J. Sorie Conteh. ISBN9781592216116,367 pages.
Both works are published by Africa World Press/The Red Sea Press located in Trenton, New Jersey.
BRIEF PALMER BIO
A native Sierra Leonean, Eustace Palmer taught for several years at Fourah Bay College, the University of Sierra Leone, where he was Professor of English, Chair of the English Department, Dean of the Faculty (School) of Arts, and Dean of Graduate Studies. One of the pioneer critics of African literature, he has also published two works on the African novel-An Introduction to the African Novel and The Growth of the African Novel as well as scores of articles on that genre. He was also for several years Associate Editor, with Professor Eldred Jones, of African Literature Today. He currently teaches at Georgia College & State University, where he is Professor of English and Coordinator of Africana Studies.
ABIOSEH MICHAEL PORTER
Abioseh Michael Porter was born and raised in Sierra Leone. A Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of Alberta, he is a professor of English, head of the department of English and Philosophy at Drexel University, and editor of JALA, the Journal of the African Literature Association.
Photos: Professor Eustace Palmer(top) and Professor Abioseh Porter.
Editor’s note: Both books can be bought through: http:www.africaworldpressbooks.com/servlet/categories
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