User:Chasemp/Second Class Citizen (Book)

Second Class Citizen is a 1974 novel by Nigerian writer Buchi Emecheta. A poignant story of a resourceful Nigerian woman who overcomes strict tribal domination of women and countless setbacks to achieve an independent life for herself and her children. The story is often described as semi-autobiographical as the journey from Nigeria to London follows closely Emecheta’s own trajectory as an author

Plot summary
Adah is a child of Ibos from Ibuza living in Lagos in the beginning of the novel. She dreams as a young girl of moving to the United Kingdom. After her father dies, Adah is sent to live with her uncles family.

She is able to stay in school in Nigeria and attains employment working for the British embassy as a library clerk. The compensation from this job is enough to make her a desirable bride to Francis (her now husband) and in-laws.

Francis travels to the United Kingdom for several years to pursue the study of law. Adah convinces her husbands family that she and the children belong in the UK as well. Francis believes they are second-class citizens in the United Kingdom as they are not citizens of the country. Adah finds employment working for another library and pays for their expenses, while also providing primary care for their children.

Later on, we see Francis become increasingly abusive and dismissive of Adah as she pursues becoming a writer.

Critical reception
Second Class Citizen received less attention than The Bride Price in terms of reviews and press. It is well regarded as a story of overcoming struggle, and contemporary African life.