THIS SIDE JORDAN

by Margaret Laurence ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 25, 1960

Set in Ghana, this novel is the story of the struggle of men and women -- African and English alike -- who belong ""between yesterday and today"", people who despite lifelong efforts, have remained ""this side of Jordan"", the Jordan of confident self-knowledge and secure placement in today's world and way of life. The sketchy plot is present only as an embellishment to the author's thesis; but in so far as it exists, it is carried in four strains: by the three British couples of varied age groups who hate Africa but cling to it with the desperate knowledge that they have no place in England and are rapidly losing their last foothold in Africa; and, above all, the young African schoolteacher, Nathaniel Amegbe, who represents the problem of inadequately educated and only partially westernized African youth. ""Because they had more education than the majority in this country, they wanted important and significant jobs, jobs for which they were not qualified. The past was dead for them, but the future would never be realized."" The pagan beliefs and customs of these people have been almost, but not completely undermined by western indoctrination but not replaced by it. Continually taunting him is the voice saying repeatedly, ""The city of strangers is your city, and the God of conquerors is your God, and strange speech is in your mouth, and you have no home."" Significant side-issues and incidents are numerous and serve to complete the whole -- one of pathetic and at times cynical observation. Hope -- illusory, deceptive, and unproductive as it is -- appears only at the end. And even then one has the feeling that the result is bound to be as empty and as discouraging as before. Artistically and expertly written and constructed, this novel is of unusual and noteworthy calibre.

Pub Date: Oct. 25, 1960

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1960

Categories: FICTION