The River Between

Dec 6, 2025 12:54 AM

Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o,Jack Mapanje

The River Between

THE RIVER BETWEEN 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 fellow Joshua and his fiery brand of Christianity while 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 issues which will determine both his own and the Gikuyu's survival.

Reviews

Alice Hoffman hits bulls-eyes on the incomprehension between the young and the old, of the magic and pain of ordinary life. She is erotic and romantic, funny and clever and humane

—— Philip Howard , The Times

A beautiful book. Fresh and dauntless

—— Toni Morrison

Compelling...Illumination Night is a novel of convincing psychological realism

—— Marge Piercy

An authentic prose stylist of a high order

—— Boston Globe

A shimmering, radiant tale

—— Publishers Weekly

A perceptive, tears-trickling-down-the-side-of-your-nose-on-the-bus brilliant read

—— Company

Moving and intelligent

—— Independent

A poignant tale of life, love and loss

—— Mirror

Traditional, light-hearted romantic fiction at its best

—— Literary Review

Poignant and humorous

—— Now

A buoyant tale that will have you laughing and crying from start to finish

—— Woman's Journal

The twists and turns in the plot will leave you dizzy

—— New Woman

The story is original and the suspense is skilfully built. An infuriatingly enjoyable feel-good read

—— The List

An engaging and original plot

—— New Statesman

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