Hello Nairalanders! I'm presently writing on the issue of characterisation in war books with emphasis on the Nigerian Civil War (1967-70), please can anyone in the house recommend some books and the characters involved in such books with focus on their wartime attitudes compared to before-or-after the war? Thank you.

Divided We STand- Cyprian Ekwensi

The Last Duty- Isidore Okpewho

Survive the Peace- cyprian ekwensi

Toads of War- eddie Iroh

Girls at war and other Stories- Chinua Achebe?

Half of a Yellow Sun- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie


suggest you get hold of the books and do your reading by yourself first.

See also Nelson Otta's book on the Nigerian civil war.

try Glendora bookshop @ falomo shopping complex in Ikoyi

Thanks Pals, already have some of the recommended texts but would still appreciate more posts specifically making comments on the characters in such books.

There are numerous books on the Nigerian civil war which fall into three categories:

1) Those written by the protagonists. Usually the most detailed but also the most biased.
2) Those written by professional writers.
3) Post civil war literature by civilians.

Books:
Alex Madiebo's "The Biafran Revolution and the Nigerian Civil War" (authorative source, author was the head of the Biafran army)
"The Brothers' War" by John de St Jorre - the best book IMHO on the war. Very balanced account of the events leading up to and during the war.
Obasanjo's "My Command" - GOC of the 3 Marine Commando division which made the breakthrough for the federal army.

Thanks Max, but what your view on the characterisation in the recommended texts?

Chisco. What do you mean by "characterisation"?

Max, i mean the key characters in the books and your assessment of the role they played in the story. The purpose for asking this is to have your opinion of what you think was the effect of the nigerian civil war on such identified persons.

The books written by "characters" in my list are those by OBJ and Madiebo. As they say: history is written by the victors. OBJ's wartime role as a GOC propelled him to national fame and led him to being the longest serving head of state in Nigerian history. Madiebo was on the losing side but despite his excellent command of the Biafran army with meagre resources his name does not come up much. Had he been on the winning side he would have been nationally famous.

Thanks Max, for the brief on OBJ and Madiebo.

Elechi Amadi, Sunset in Biafra

Girls at war & half of a yellow sun

I just ordered some of those books from the university library!

Journey 0f No Return - Tochukwu Nwankwo

how about books on world war

[size=14pt]You can get some books about the Nigerian Civil War from Sunshine Bookseller: http://www.sunshinenigeria.com/nigeria-civil-war[/size]

Title: NIGERIA IS A ZOO
Author: Emma Powerful