The epitaph of the book is from Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. How does the epitaph reflect Ngũgĩ’s experience?

The epitaph, “something startles me where I thought I was safest,” speaks of waking to a shock when moments prior there was a sense of security. This question asks the reader to find the patterns of sanctuary/insecurity within Ngũgĩ’s life experiences described in this memoir.

How does the inclusion of photographs create intimacy with Ngũgĩ’s high school experiences?

The photographs with friends on campus, during scouting excursions, or in theater productions offer a visual glimpse into Ngũgĩ’s life. These primary documents relay photographic substance and context to the dynamic of the story and the question asks the reader to contemplate on this added intimacy.

How do the broadly enforced laws of colonial Kenya limit the possible prosperity of native Kenyans?