The Only Son

In his debut novel, The Only Son, John Munonye explores the impact of British colonialism on Igboland and the conflict that arises between traditional Igbo culture and the teachings of a Roman Catholic missionary school.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In his debut novel, The Only Son, John Munonye delves into the profound impact of British colonialism on the lives of the ordinary people of Igboland. Recently widowed and now a single mother to her only child, Chiaku makes the courageous decision to relocate her family to a remote village in eastern Nigeria, seeking to instill in her son the values and traditions of their culture and a strong devotion to the Igbo god Igwe. However, their hopes of a peaceful and culturally rich existence are soon challenged when a Roman Catholic missionary school opens up in their village. Initially wary of the unfamiliar Western ways, Chiaku's son, Nduka, finds himself drawn to the teachings of the missionary priests, leading to a conflict that threatens to tear his family apart.

As Nduka becomes more engrossed in the Catholic faith, he begins to distance himself from his Igbo heritage and the traditions of his village. Chiaku, torn between her love for her son and her commitment to her culture, struggles to find a balance between the two worlds that are pulling him apart. Meanwhile, the tensions between the Catholic missionaries and the local community escalate, as the missionaries seek to convert the villagers to their faith and the villagers resist their influence.

The Only Son is a powerful exploration of the complexities of cultural identity, faith, and the consequences of colonialism. Through the struggles of Chiaku and Nduka, Munonye sheds light on the ways in which cultural change can be both destructive and transformative, and the importance of preserving one's heritage in the face of external pressures.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803289090