The Dark Child: The Autobiography of an African Boy [Paperback]

Camara Laye (Author), James Kirkup (Translator), Ernest Jones (Translator), Philippe Thoby-Marcellin (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1954

The Dark Child is a distinct and graceful memoir of Camara Laye's youth in the village of Koroussa, French Guinea. Long regarded Africa's preeminent Francophone novelist, Laye (1928-80) herein marvels over his mother's supernatural powers, his father's distinction as the village goldsmith, and his own passage into manhood, which is marked by animistic beliefs and bloody rituals of primeval origin. Eventually, he must choose between this unique place and the academic success that lures him to distant cities. More than autobiography of one boy, this is the universal story of sacred traditions struggling against the encroachment of a modern world. A passionate and deeply affecting record, The Dark Child is a classic of African literature.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Dark Child has the force of nostalgia, which spurred Laye to write it to relieve his exile at a time when he was far from his people." --From the Introduction by Philippe Thoby-Marcellin

About the Author

Camara Laye was born in 1928 in the village of Koroussa, French Guinea. He was still in his twenties and studying engineering in France when he wrote The Dark Child. He died in Senegal in 1980.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (January 1, 1954)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080901548X
• ISBN-13: 978-0809015481
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #76 in Books > History > Africa
  • #80 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > African-American & Black

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Memoir of an African Childhood, November 29, 2000

By 

Ed Gibbon www.congocookbook.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Child: The Autobiography of an African Boy (Paperback)

Camara Laye was one of the first sub-saharan writers to become well-known outside of Africa. "L'Enfant Noir" or "The Dark Child" (also titled "The African Child"?) was published in 1953 when the author was twenty-five and living in France. It is a pleasantly nostalgic memoir of a childhood spent in the town of Kouroussa (French Guinea, now Guinea) and the village of Tindican, his mother's birthplace. Chapter by chapter Camara recounts his childhood memories: his father's work as a goldsmith and his position in society, his parent's magic, village life, the rice harvest, elementary Koranic education, circumcision and young men's secret society, secondary education in Conakry, girls and courtship, and his departure to continue his studies in France. After almost half a century in print, this deserves to be called a classic. [Note: some authorities state that his family name is Camara (also spelled Kamara) and his given name is Laye; the text supports this at one point. If using search engines to look for information on this author it may be useful to try both versions of his name.]

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, July 5, 2001

By 

JCB (I Love Seattle!) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Dark Child: The Autobiography of an African Boy (Paperback)

A beautifully textured, fluid and organic autobiography, Camara Laye offers readers a piece of his life in The Dark Child. As part of the Malinke community in Upper Guinea, Laye captures the layered tradition and culture of his community, deemed, perhaps by most, to be simplistic or primitive compared to today's modern standards. Yet it is exactly from Layes descriptions of the traditions of his community that we can begin to understand the psychology of the author. Each chapter is rich with imagery, and his words smack of sincerity and innocence, bringing about an effortless quality and flow to his work--it is as if we are there with Laye experiencing his many transitions, from boyhood to manhood. His descriptions of the communal lifestyle of his people is remarkable. Laye's works like other modern African authors reveal the realities of colonization, and help readers to appreciate and celebrate indigenous African traditions.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It took me a long time to read this book., February 9, 2001

By 

Diaspora Chic "diaspora_chic" (Silver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Child: The Autobiography of an African Boy (Paperback)

I first got this book in junior high by a family friend but never bothered to read it until I entered high school. Not having anything to read, I took it upon myself to read the book. I found myself intrigued by the author's way of life during colonialism and his upbringing in a village and his graduation from high school. It was sad that one of his classmates died unexpectedly. Wanting to find out some more about this author I looked up a book of African authors. Unfortuately he passed away in 1980. He is a great writer and wished that I had read it soon as it was given to me.