David Cook (literary critic)
Encyclopedia
David Cook was a British academic, literary critic and anthologist. As a Professor of Literature at the Universities of Makerere
and Ilorin
, he played an important role in encouraging literature
in East Africa
.
in 1954 with a first-class degree in English literature, and completing a MA in 1956. He then taught at the University of Southampton
until 1962, when he became a lecturer at Makerere University
. He became Senior Lecturer in 1965, and Professor and Head of Department in 1967. From 1977 to 1989 he was Professor of English and Head of the Department of Modern European Languages at the University of Ilorin
.
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
and Ilorin
University of Ilorin
The University of Ilorin, sometimes known as Unilorin, is a university in Ilorin, Nigeria.It was established by a decree of the Federal Military Government in 1975 and is a federal government owned tertiary institution of education located in Ilorin, Kwara State, north central Nigeria...
, he played an important role in encouraging literature
African literature
African literature refers to literature of and from Africa. As George Joseph notes on the first page of his chapter on African literature in Understanding Contemporary Africa, while the European perception of literature generally refers to written letters, the African concept includes oral...
in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
.
Life
David Cook was educated at Birkbeck College, London, graduating from the University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1954 with a first-class degree in English literature, and completing a MA in 1956. He then taught at the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
until 1962, when he became a lecturer at Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
. He became Senior Lecturer in 1965, and Professor and Head of Department in 1967. From 1977 to 1989 he was Professor of English and Head of the Department of Modern European Languages at the University of Ilorin
University of Ilorin
The University of Ilorin, sometimes known as Unilorin, is a university in Ilorin, Nigeria.It was established by a decree of the Federal Military Government in 1975 and is a federal government owned tertiary institution of education located in Ilorin, Kwara State, north central Nigeria...
.
Works
- (ed.) Origin East Africa: a Makerere anthology, London : Heinemann Educational Books, 1965. African Writers SeriesAfrican Writers SeriesAfrican Writers Series is a series of books by African writers which has been published by Heinemann since 1962. The series has been a vehicle for some of the most important African writers, ensuring an international voice to literary masters including Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Steve Biko,...
, 15. - (ed. with Miles Lee) Short East African plays in English: ten plays in English, London & Nairobi: Heinemann Educational, 1968.
- (ed. with David RubadiriDavid RubadiriJames David Rubadiri is a Malawian diplomat, academic and poet. At independence in 1964, Rubadiri was appointed Malawi's first ambassador to the United States and the United Nations...
) Poems from East Africa, London: Heinemann Educational, 1971. African Writers SeriesAfrican Writers SeriesAfrican Writers Series is a series of books by African writers which has been published by Heinemann since 1962. The series has been a vehicle for some of the most important African writers, ensuring an international voice to literary masters including Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Steve Biko,...
96. - (ed.) In black and white : writings from East Africa with broadcast discussions and commentary, Kampala: East African Literature Bureau, 1976
- African literature: a critical view, London: Longman, 1977
- (with Michael Okenimpke) Ngugi wa Thiong'o, an exploration of his writings, London: Heinemann, 1983
- (ed. with Olu Obafemi and Wumi Raji) Rising voices: an anthology of new Nigerian poetry, Yaba, Lagos : Kraft Books, 1991