Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo 1938-

Weep not, child by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
90 editions published between 1964 and 2010 in 10 languages and held by 1,387 libraries worldwide
"Two small boys stand on a rubbish heap and look into the future. One boy is excited, he is beginning school; the other, his brother, is an apprentice carpetner. Together, they will serve their country--the teacher and the craftsman. But this is Kenya and times are against them. In the forests, the Mau Mau are waging war against the white government, and two brothers, Njoroge and Kamau, and the rest of their family, need to decide where their loyalties lie. For the practical man, the choice is simple, but for Njoroge, the scholar, the dream of progress through learning is a hard one to give up"--back cover.

A grain of wheat by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
67 editions published between 1967 and 2008 in 9 languages and held by 1,356 libraries worldwide
"The works of Kenyan author Ngugi have made a powerful impact throughout the world. A Grain of Wheat was recognised as one of Africa's 100 best books of the twentieth century in an initiative organised by the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. The central action in this novel by Ngugi wa Thiong'o takes place in December of 1963 in a village in Kenya that is preparing for the coming of Uhuru (Independence). However, the plot is non-linear, with a wealth of flashbacks and various twists and turns. There are also multiple storylines which are well-woven into a fascinating tapestry. The main story is indeed the coming of Independence Day, part of which involves identifying the person who betrayed Kihika, one of the leading freedom fighters from the village. Many of the flashbacks along this storyline involve the fight for freedom as well as details about what occurred in the detention camps. Another prominent storyline is that involving a love triangle between Mumbi and her two suitors, Gikonyo and Karanja. A third intriguing storyline involves Mugo, a man whom everyone recognizes as different yet feels drawn to. Ngugi portrays his inner conflict masterfully, especially in using biblical allusions to both Moses and Judas in relation to Mugo." -- from www.mouthshut.com (Oct. 22, 2010).

The river between by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
74 editions published between 1965 and 2005 in 4 languages and held by 1,340 libraries worldwide
This book explores life on the Makuyu and Kameno ridges of Kenya in the early days of white settlement. Faced with an alluring new religion and 'magical' customs, the Gikuyu people are torn between those who fear the unknown and those who see beyond it. Some follow Joshua and his fiery brand of Christianity. Others proudly pursue tribal independence. In the midst of this disunity stands Waiyaki, a dedicated visionary born to a line of prophets. He struggles to educate the tribe, a task he sees as the only unifying link between the two factions, but his plans for the future raise issue which will determine both his and the Gikuyu's survival.

Petals of blood by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
58 editions published between 1977 and 2005 in 7 languages and held by 1,314 libraries worldwide
Three African directors of a foreign-owned brewery in Kenya are murdered, and "as the intertwined stories of the four suspects unfold[s], a devastating picture emerges of a modern third world nation whose frustrated people feel their leaders have failed them time after fime."--Cover.

Wizard of the crow by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
27 editions published between 2004 and 2011 in 5 languages and held by 1,084 libraries worldwide
The individual stories of characters both powerful and ordinary creates a kaleidoscopic portrait of postcolonial Africa in the twentieth century in a novel set in the Free Republic of Aburiria.

Decolonising the mind : the politics of language in African literature by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
27 editions published between 1986 and 2008 in English and Undetermined and held by 960 libraries worldwide

Homecoming: essays on African and Caribbean literature, culture and politics by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
19 editions published between 1972 and 1983 in English and held by 944 libraries worldwide

Devil on the cross by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
44 editions published between 1978 and 2011 in 12 languages and held by 887 libraries worldwide
"Devil on the Cross tells the tragic story of Wariinga, a young woman who emigrated from her small rural town to the city of Nairobi only to be exploited by her boss and later a corrupt businessman."

The black hermit by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
35 editions published between 1968 and 2008 in English and Swahili and held by 696 libraries worldwide

Secret lives and other stories by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo ( Book )
18 editions published between 1975 and 1993 in English and German and held by 661 libraries worldwide