Kole Omotoso, one of Nigeria's major writers, is always provocative. His writing is informed by a passionate concern for society and politics in Nigeria. This major work is a blend of fact and fiction dramatizing the first one hundred years of Nigeria. Most of the characters and incidents inthe book are real; the narrative is conceived and written as a novel. The story covers riots, uprisings, private hopes and griefsand coup d'etats -a history marred by violence, with an outcome satisfactory to none. The book was received as a major contribution to African writing, in its innovative style,...