"A BRILLIANT, PROVOCATIVE, OPINIONATED WORK..RECOMMENDED."--CHOICE. Festus Iyayi, Ben Okri & Kole Omotoso represent what has come to be known as the second "generation" of Nigerian novelists. Emerging from the shadow of the 68-70 civil war, they were greatly influenced by the ensuing shifts in public & social life, especially the obscene levels of corruption which coincided with the country's second experiment in democracy under President Shagari. In the first examination of this group of writers, Adewale Maja-Pearce presents a detailed critique of the major figures-- Omotoso, Iyayi & Okri--while also touching upon lesser-known novelists such as Ifeoma Okoye, Lekan Oyegoke & Tony Marinho. Other forms of literary activity to blossom during the same period (poetry & drama) are discussed, along with background material on the modern Nigerian novel & an update of the current literary scene. (NEW PERSPECTIVES ON AFRICAN LITERATURE, 3)