Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie sets her tale during the Nigerian Civil War (1967 to 1970), when the region of Biafra seceded to form an independent state. The university professor at the center of this book is a passionate supporter of the revolution. A young boy from a rural village is brought to work at his home in a dusty university town.

The boy had never been away from his village before. So everything was new and strange -- especially when his new master sent him off to the kitchen to get something to eat.

Music for this show ...