{"product_id":"9781780329062","title":"Nigeria : A New History of a Turbulent Century","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eNigeria\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Richard Bourne\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e'If you want to understand Nigeria's history in one succinct go, this is a very good choice.'\u003cbr\u003eNoo Saro-Wiwa\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKnown as the African Giant, Nigeria's story is complex and often contradictory. How, despite the ravages of colonialism, civil war, ongoing economic disappointment and most recently the Boko Haram insurgency, has the country managed to stay together for a hundred years? Why, despite an abundance of oil, mineral and agricultural wealth, have so many of its people remained in poverty?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese are the key questions explored by Richard Bourne in this remarkable and wide-ranging account of Nigeria's history, from its creation in 1914 to the historic 2015 elections and beyond.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFeaturing a wealth of original research and interviews, this is an essential insight into the shaping of a country where, despite the seemingly dashed optimism that was raised at independence, there still remains hope 'the Nigeria project' may still succeed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Writing about the diversity and complexity of governance in Nigeria poses a challenge even to established historians. Richard Bourne has in this book tackled the challenge with detailed research and admirable perspicacity. Recommended reading for all those interested in Nigerian history.” —\u003ci\u003eEmeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A]n excellent overview of the main political events of Nigeria's first hundred years.” —\u003ci\u003eAfrica at LSE\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The book currently stands as the most extensive documentation on Nigeria.” —\u003ci\u003eAfrican Studies Quarterly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fills a gap for a one-stop history of the first century ... Bourne relates a century's worth of politics at a brisk clip.” —\u003ci\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A]n excellent introduction to Africa's most populous country.” —\u003ci\u003eForeign Affairs\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An insightful account of great interest to scholars.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Well researched and full of the anecdotes that turn a great history into an enjoyable one, Bourne's book is a necessary addition to the growing canon of comprehensive histories of Nigeria.” —\u003ci\u003eChibundu Onuzo, Guardian columnist and author of The Spider King's Daughter\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Richard Bourne's meticulously researched book is a major addition to Nigerian history.” —\u003ci\u003eGuy Arnold, author of Africa: A Modern History\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This book is a major achievement and I defy anyone who reads it not to learn from it and gain greater understanding of the nature and development of a major African nation.” —\u003ci\u003eLalage Bown, professor emeritus, Glasgow University\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“If you want to understand Nigeria's history in one succinct go, this is a very good choice.” —\u003ci\u003eNoo Saro-Wiwa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Richard Bourne's brilliant new book is an admirable, fair-minded account of a complex story, embellished with excellent portraits of its extended cast.” —\u003ci\u003eRichard Gott, author of Britain's Empire\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With his characteristic candour, pithiness and immaculate judgement, Bourne gives us a Nigerian history that reveals not only its full complexity but its huge range of dynamism, resilience and hope for the future. This is a very fine book.” —\u003ci\u003eStephen Chan, SOAS, University of London\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This is a charming read that will educate the general reader, while allowing specialists additional insights to build upon. It deserves an audience far beyond the confines of Nigerian studies.” —\u003ci\u003eToyin Falola, African Studies Association and the University of Texas at Austin\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781780329062\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Zed Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40814571618510,"sku":"9781780329062","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_84492dcb-3b32-4b16-8e13-536baaf73aef.jpg?v=1642757743","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781780329062","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}