{"product_id":"9780593314470","title":"Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth: A Novel | Wole Soyinka","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-description-container\" style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; color: #333;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eChronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003ch3 style=\"color: #555;\"\u003eby Wole Soyinka\u003c\/h3\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"font-style: italic; color: #7f8c8d;\"\u003eA New York Times Notable Book of the Year\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003chr style=\"border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #eee; margin: 20px 0;\"\u003e\n\n    \u003cdiv style=\"background-color: #fdf2f2; border-left: 5px solid #c0392b; padding: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n        \u003cp style=\"margin: 0; font-weight: bold; color: #c0392b;\"\u003e🇳🇬 POLITICAL SATIRE \u0026amp; LITERARY ALLEGORY\u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cp style=\"margin: 0; font-size: 0.9em;\"\u003eA searing tour de force from the first Black Nobel laureate in Literature, blending murder mystery with a scathing indictment of power, deceit, and corruption.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n    \u003ch4\u003eExtended Synopsis\u003c\/h4\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003eChronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth\u003c\/strong\u003e, Wole Soyinka constructs a vivid, imaginary Nigeria where the social fabric is unraveling under the weight of extreme corruption. The narrative centers on a macabre and cunning entrepreneurial scheme: the theft and sale of body parts from Dr. Menka’s hospital for use in ritualistic practices. When Dr. Menka confides in his oldest friend—Duyole Pitan-Payne, a star engineer and Yoruba royal on the verge of a prestigious UN post—the two find themselves targeted by a powerful, invisible enemy determined to prevent Duyole from reaching New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n    \n\n    \u003cp\u003eThis novel is a masterful blend of genres, described as an \"Alice in Wonderland-like modern allegory\" that functions simultaneously as a crafty whodunit and a fierce political call to arms. Soyinka uses his signature wit and linguistic prowess to explore how absolute power corrupts absolutely, creating a \"literary hoot\" that is as entertaining as it is devastating. It is a profound exploration of the soul of a nation and a testament to the enduring courage required to confront systemic abuse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n    \u003cdiv style=\"background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; margin-top: 20px;\"\u003e\n        \u003ch4 style=\"margin-top: 0;\"\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h4\u003e\n        \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWole Soyinka\u003c\/strong\u003e is a global literary giant and the first Black recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1986). A playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist, he is equally renowned for his fierce political activism and lifelong commitment to justice. Soyinka has been imprisoned for his beliefs and forced into exile, yet he continues to be one of the world’s most potent voices against the abuse of power. His work frequently draws upon his Yoruba heritage while engaging with global political themes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n    \u003ch4\u003eReader Targeting\u003c\/h4\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContemporary Fiction Readers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Those who appreciate complex, multi-layered narratives that challenge the status quo.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePolitical Satire Enthusiasts:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fans of searing social commentary and allegorical world-building.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAcademic Researchers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Students of African literature, post-colonial studies, and the works of Nobel laureates seeking authoritative editions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n    \u003ch4\u003eAccolades \u0026amp; Awards\u003c\/h4\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eWinner of the \u003cstrong\u003eNobel Prize in Literature\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNew York Times Notable Book of the Year\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003ePraised by the \u003cem\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/em\u003e as a \"searing political satire\" and a \"modern allegory of power.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n    \u003ch4\u003eProduct Specifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n    \u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e9780593314470\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e0593314476\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLCCN:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e2021006092\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003eKnopf Doubleday Publishing Group\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003ePaperback\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n            \u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;\"\u003e2022-08-02\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003c\/table\u003e\n\n    \u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; font-size: 0.9em; color: #777;\"\u003e\n        \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBust-Down Books: A Name You Can Trust\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n        Bust-Down Books: More Than a Bookstore\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n    \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n    {\n      \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/\",\n      \"@type\": \"Book\",\n      \"name\": \"Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth\",\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\n        \"name\": \"Wole Soyinka\"\n      },\n      \"isbn\": \"9780593314470\",\n      \"bookFormat\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/Paperback\",\n      \"datePublished\": \"2022-08-02\",\n      \"publisher\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group\"\n      },\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en\",\n      \"brand\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n        \"name\": \"Bust Down Books\"\n      }\n    }\n    \u003c\/script\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50674556928315,"sku":"0593314476","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9780593314470.jpg?v=1773009192","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/9780593314470","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}