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Title: Were Africans considered Frenchmen?
Review: Often the protagonists of such colonial novels are caught between two worlds (e.g., Ngugi wa Thiog'o's "The River Between", or they are seen watching the colonists invade the traditional boundaries (e.g., Achebe's "Things Fall Apart"). This book is different. The protagonist rejects his traditional life in the first two pages. What happens then is the interest. The question is can an African ever be accepted as an equal by the colonizer? While you probably know the answer, Toundi's journey - as told by his journal - is an enthralling read. I read this book in about two and a half hours and missed a Red Sox playoff game on TV when I couldn't put it down. My only reservation is that I could not read it in the original French. I do not put it as a must read; but, if you enjoyed either "The River Between" or "Things Fall Apart," I would highly suggest you read it.
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