The Resistance for Preeminence and Serenity: A Grain of Wheat

A Grain of Wheat is a conventional account of Kenya's struggle for sovereignty seen through the character sketches of people in Thabai, a small Kikuyuni village. It is sated with political, religious and social observations along with crystallization of mid twentieth century history. The novel entwines numerous narratives together during the state of emergency in Kenya through a series of flashbacks in the lives and experiences of main characters, focusing on quiet Mugo (the village's chosen hero and a man haunted by a terrible secret), Mumbi, Kihika, Karanja and Thompson. The plot revolves around Mugo's village's preparations for Kenya's Independence Day celebration - Uhuru day. The novel weaves stories within stories, the narrative interwoven with allusions to real life leaders of the nationalist struggle like Jomo Kenyatta and others. As events unfold, compromises are forced, friendships are betrayed and lovers are tested.

A Grain of Wheat is a conventional account of Kenya's struggle for sovereignty seen through the character sketches of people in Thabai, a small Kikuyuni village. It is sated with political, religious and social observations along with crystallization of mid twentieth century history. The novel entwines numerous narratives together during the state of emergency in Kenya through a series of flashbacks in the lives and experiences of main characters, focusing on quiet Mugo (the village's chosen hero and a man haunted by a terrible secret), Mumbi, Kihika, Karanja and Thompson. The plot revolves around Mugo's village's preparations for Kenya's Independence Day celebration - Uhuru day. The novel weaves stories within stories, the narrative interwoven with allusions to real life leaders of the nationalist struggle like Jomo Kenyatta and others. As events unfold, compromises are forced, friendships are betrayed and lovers are tested.