The Interpreters (novel)

The narrative of The Interpreters appears chaotic, with Soyinka employing a non-linear storytelling approach, frequently revisiting past events. As a result, understanding the main characters, particularly Egbo and Sagoe, requires close attention and effort. Many other characters (university professors, editor board of the newspaper where Sagoe works at) are given schematically, fully conforming to the prevailing stereotypes of the era. This is because the novel was published in the 1960s, shortly after many of the African states became independent, and in fact Soyinka tried to build his narrative in order to oppose the stereotypes that were generally included in a post-colonial novel.^[5] The structure of the narrative also ultimately forms a comment on the events that occur in the lives of several characters.^[6]

Thomas Lask, writing for The New York Times, took issue with the "diffuse" construction of the novel.^[7] However, his review was positive, praising the combination of "esthetic and political problems".^[7] The novel has been referred to as "difficult" and as "never having received the attention it deserved".^[8]