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Short Stories With Appealing Human Passions

by George Ricketts Hagan; Compiled by David Eric Hagan; Illustrated by Terre Britton

120 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #06-2752; ISBN 1-4251-0993-4; US$21.21, C$24.39, EUR16.53, £10.96

Short Stories With Appealing Human Passions is an ensemble of a dozen nostalgic African folk tales, 'exhibiting vivacity with a purpose', that reflects the culture and lifestyle of the yesteryear in Ghana.

About the Book

Short Stories With Appealing Human Passions is an inspiring ensemble of creative artistry, richly entwined with invigorating yet funky illustrations making these African folk tales entertaining.

It is a collection of a dozen nostalgic African folk tales, 'exhibiting vivacity with a purpose', that reflects the culture and lifestyle of the yesteryear in Ghana, with two of the short stories, The Price Of Healing and The History Behind The Customs winning airtime accolade of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The inspiration behind writing these short stories stems from the author's interest in folk tales during his youthful days when from time-to-time an astute story teller would gather children under moonlight and pensively tell them what is known in Ghana as Kweku Ananse stories: that is the name given to the spider known to weave webs with yarn.

So telling stories in such situations is like spinning a yarn - which in the literal sense is collective threads of rope or a sailor's story spun out to some length often with incredible elements.

About the Author

George Ricketts Hagan was born in Cape Coast, Ghana in October, 1927. He was educated at Cape Coast Methodist Primary School, and Mfanstipim Secondary School, where he obtained the Overseas Cambridge School Certificate in 1948 with exemption from London Matriculation.

From 1960 to 1964 he studied Hospital Management in Britain and graduated with the Institute of Hospital Administrators In London, specialising in Accountancy. He was elected to the Associateship of Hospital Administrators (AHA) in 1965. He was appointed Hospital Administrator on return to Ghana.

In 1969, he was back in Britain for a postgraduate course in management consultancy at the University of Strathclyde (Management Centre), Glasgow with visits to other industrial organisations for practical observations.

He started creative writing in 1956. By the end of 1959, he had written ten short stories for Radio Ghana's programmes, apart from poems and plays, some broadcast, and others unpublished.

It was early 1972 that Mr. Hagan staged a comeback to creative writing and produced the The Price Of Healing and The History Behind The Customs in his spare time.

George is married to Patricia and they have four children. George and Patricia Hagan are on retirement and living together in Accra, Ghana.

Excerpts