Mister Johnson
Mister Johnson by Joyce Cary is a literary work published by Penguin Modern Classics in 1988, featuring 256 pages in English. The novel follows Mr. Johnson, a temporary clerk in Fada, Nigeria, who, despite being in debt, hosts extravagant gatherings filled with music and smuggled gin. Set against the backdrop of colonial Nigeria, the story reflects Cary’s own experiences during his time in the Nigerian Colonial Service from 1913 to 1919.
Readers will encounter a rich portrayal of colonial life through the eyes of Mr. Johnson, who is determined to improve his circumstances, including his aspirations to provide for his wife. The narrative explores themes of ambition and cultural dynamics within the context of colonialism. This edition offers a glimpse into the complexities of life in Nigeria during a transformative period, making it a significant addition to the genre of literature and fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
A temporary clerk, still on probation, Mr Johnson has been in Fada, Nigeria, for six months and is already much in debt. Undaunted, he entertains on the grandest scale, with drums and smuggled gin. Not only that, he intends to pay a small fortune for his wife … First published in 1939, Mister Johnson marked the end of Joyce Cary’s series of Nigerian-based novels, derived from his own days in the Nigerian Colonial Service (1913-1919). William Boyd has described the novel as, ‘A wonderfully evocative portrait of a bygone colonial life … Mr Johnson, in short, is a great literary creation; he can safely take his place beside any of the enduring characters world literature has presented us with: from Falstaff to Zeno, from Candide to Humbert Humbert.’
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