Violence

by Festus Iyayi

Violence (Longman African Classics Series) 0582002400

Genres: Nigeria, Africa

Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Achiraf]

#Ithink that those who have power or have money or hight standard living abuse poor people or weaker people. thus is unfair. when we take the case of adisa who was force to have sex with Obofun a rich man because the poor woman need help in order to save her husband idemudia who admited in hospital. i was very chocked with this bad behaviours and project far away on how this novel reflects this current society. thinks should be change.#al

[Shammah Godoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Read.

First Read, I was 11 years ld, still grasping the English language and missed all of the nuances the adults had been raving about.

Now, I can appreciate Violence as a social realist masterpiece. And as if I am reading it for the first time. Violence is a book that you read and then you read about. And this is the content I signed up for.

What do you expect from a book titled Violence? Surely not overt blood and gore. That would be such a giveaway. Here, lyayi examines violence in the forms it takes in society particularly between the classes and in this rendition where there is the ruling/upper/political wielding class and the subject/lower/working class.

In this story that draws from Nigeria of the late 70s, whose oil riches has stopped translating into country wealth and severely weakened state welfare, the troubles of Idemudia and Adisa take us across the parts of the state where we witness infrastructural decay, social decay, character decay and moral decay.

Unlike stories who are subject to a style, lyayi employs as many literary devices as he doesn't employ, to distill the essence of this novel. I returned to Violence after reading a formalist attempt at critiquing it and found the work to be more riveting than before.

308 pages of baring the skeleton of the cycle of societal violence from its point of origin to its possible defusion. Iyayi's Violence is such a unique blend of story and premise dictating style and should return to the academic shelves of secondary school literature.

[Ewere · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking book. As an african, it hits very close to home but Mr. Festus I would have just loved a more conclusive ending with all the characters. Mr Festus, you should consider writing a follow-up to this, I'm just suggesting.
I enjoyed it thank you.

[Figin Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A people are never conquered. Defeated, yes, but never conquered."

"Violence" by Festus Iyayi is a powerful exploration of socio-economic inequality and corruption in Nigeria. Through the lives of Idemudia and Adisa, Iyayi paints a vivid picture of the struggles faced by the impoverished, highlighting their resilience and the injustices they endure. The novel's stark depiction of poverty, coupled with its critique of corruption and exploitation, makes it a poignant and thought-provoking read that remains relevant today. However, the graphic portrayal of violence and suffering may be unsettling for some.

[Franklina Afriyie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book for everyone

[Arnauld Bassadissa]

May I have the plot of the novel and its characters please

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best fictional work ever

[Atinuke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Academically sound

[Helen Appah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please I need to read the complet book

[Favour]

I want to read

[Jean Robert]

Want to read it now

[Jennifer David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best ever

[Ummulkhayr Musa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is inspiring as it talks about the marxism

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

really interesting, enjoyed the prose, a little on the nose here and there but i’m really loving a story that commits itself fully to being a story (these days at least. nothing subversive in form)

[Tinuola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Uche Ezeudu · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book!! This is a book that tells the story of a poverty-stricken Nigerian couple in the 70s.
We get to see another rich, greedy and moral less couple who would go to any lengths to achieve their goals. Eventually, these two sets of couples meet and their lives are intertwined by what one set has and what the other lacks.
I wasn’t expecting the ending of this book at all and I love the emphasis the author places on morales, regardless of the situation. A good name is far better than riches.
With Idemudia and Adisa, we get to see an imperfect love but love regardless and in as much as I don’t excuse his violent behaviors towards his wife, we see what poverty and penury can cause because how is it that things began to brighten in their home as soon as a little as twenty Naira became available in their household?
I highly recommend this book and it is so well and beautifully written. Such gold!!

[Aminata Ouattara · Rating 5 out of 5]

the world building is this book is incredible. even characters that weren’t discussed in detail added depth to the story. if you love post-colonial historical fiction books that talk about class and gender relations in a creative yet substantive way i def recommend this book!

[Chido wekwaGohori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iyayi's style of writing is emotionally gripping and thought provoking. His use of imagery is like no other