Synopses & Reviews
Nnu Ego, a Nigerian woman, is ceremoniously married only to be cast off when she fails to conceive. When she finally succeeds in becoming a mother in a second marriage, Nnu Ego gains the respect of her family and her people. But as her family of eight children grows, the values of her rive, her people, and her country undergo bewildering changes, ultimately leaving her bereft of the pleasures that traditionally would be accorded her as a mother.
Synopsis
First published in 1979, The Joys of Motherhood is the story of Nnu Ego, a Nigerian woman struggling in a patriarchal society. Unable to conceive in her first marriage, Nnu is banished to Lagos where she succeeds in becoming a mother. Then, against the backdrop of World War II, Nnu must fiercely protect herself and her children when she is abandoned by her husband and her people. Emecheta "writes with subtlety, power, and abundant compassion" (New York Times).