The Thing Around Your Neck

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was published in 2009. Adichie had previously published two novels, making this text her third book and her first short story anthology. Some of the stories had been published previously in publications like The New Yorker and The Iowa Review. The book received praise, situating Adichie as a rising star of Nigerian literature. These short stories deal with problems of political conflict, immigration, artistic integrity, and family legacy and are set in both Nigeria and the US.

This guide uses the Knopf 2009 edition.

Content Warning: The text includes descriptions of sexual harassment, non-graphic depictions of sexual violence, and misogyny. Political violence and child death are discussed in depth. There are also descriptions of prison brutality.

Plot Summaries

The 12 stories within The Thing Around Your Neck revolve around the lives of Nigerians mainly in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They usually focus on the inner life of one character, delving into their personality and the effect their circumstances have on them.

In “Cell One,” the narrator tells the story of her older brother, Nnamabia, and his development from the spoiled and self-interested son of a professor to a compassionate and righteous man.