The Palm-Wine Drinkard: And His Dead Palm-Wine Tapster in the Dead's Town

Amos Tutuola
53 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 1952

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Book Brief

Amos Tutuola

The Palm-Wine Drinkard

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1952
Book Details
Pages

136

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Fantasy

•

Classic Fiction

•

Magical Realism
Setting

Yoruba Land • Magical Realm

Theme
Race

•

Death

•

Colonialism
First Publication Year

1952

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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Super Short Summary

Amos Tutuola's The Palm-Wine Drinkard follows a man who embarks on a fantastical journey to find his deceased palm-wine tapster in the land of the dead. This African folktale-inspired narrative weaves through magical landscapes and encounters with extraordinary creatures, reflecting themes of adventure and resilience in a rich cultural context.

Fantastical

Adventurous

Mysterious

Humorous

Dark

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Amos Tutuola's The Palm-Wine Drinkard is celebrated for its inventive storytelling and unique blend of Yoruba folklore and surrealism, offering a vibrant, if occasionally disjointed, narrative. While its raw prose can challenge readers seeking polished language, its imaginative depth and cultural richness continue to captivate diverse audiences.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Palm-Wine Drinkard?

A reader captivated by rich folklore and surreal adventures will enjoy The Palm-Wine Drinkard. Fans of Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude or Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart will appreciate Tutuola's blend of myth, oral tradition, and vibrant storytelling.

Character List

The unnamed protagonist and narrator defined by his palm-wine addiction, whose journey begins after his tapster dies, forcing him to search for a new supply.

A steadfast and resilient companion who undergoes many hardships alongside her husband, often providing wisdom and grounding during their journey.

An expert tapster whose death spurs the Drinkard's quest, serving as a narrative goal and symbolizing the divide between life and death.

A handsome figure in the market who deceives with borrowed body parts, revealing dangers hidden beneath superficial appearances.

Offspring of the Drinkard and his wife, representing chaotic forces and burdens that challenge the couple, leading to further complications.

A kind supernatural being who offers refuge and support within her magical White Tree, assisting the protagonists temporarily.

A creature employed by the Drinkard to perform tasks, whose excessive and uncontrolled power leads to unintended chaos.

Book Details
Pages

136

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Fantasy

•

Classic Fiction

•

Magical Realism
Setting

Yoruba Land • Magical Realm

Theme
Race

•

Death

•

Colonialism
First Publication Year

1952

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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