The story is set primarily in Lagos, Nigeria, between the 1930s and 1960s. Nnu Ego, a hard-working, optimistic Ibo woman, remains fiercely determined to save her children from the devastation of war, the erosion of village life, and the breakdown of tradition.

...a graceful, touching, ironically titled tale. - John Updike A new edition of her classic novel to coincide with the publication of her other works in the African Writers Series. Nnu Ego is a woman devoted to her children, giving them all her energy, all her worldly possessions, indeed, all her life to them -- with the result that she finds herself friendless and alone in middle age. This story of a young mother's struggles in 1950s Lagos is a powerful commentary on polygamy, patriarchy, and women's changing roles in urban Nigeria.

A Study Guide for Buchi Emecheta's "The Joys of Motherhood," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Novels for Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Novels for Students for all of your research needs.

Features information about the novel "The Joys of Motherhood," written by Nigerian-born British novelist Buchi Emecheta (1944- ), provided by New York University. Contains a summary and a commentary about the book. Notes the genre, publisher, and edition.