By Wole Balogun
The sagely saying, “Behind Every Successful Man, is a Woman” now has a somewhat ideological twist as noticeable in Raphael Segun Larayetan’s new novel, “Behind Every Miserable Man”, with several impactful and interesting stories in it.
Amazing stories in the novel,. beautifully crafted in episodic narratives, read like the reader having an intimate, personal dialogue with the novelist. They take you to the touching world of human survival, miseries, triumphs, pains and the like, all woven around the choices made by the actors that people the narratives.
Dr. Larayetan and Dr. V. Gbadegesin, HOD, ELS
Dr. Larayetan, who mixes creative ingenuity with a deep sense of an understanding of human psyche, a skill gifted by his tetulage in the field of humanities, says his areas of expertise as a holder of Ph.D in English and Literary Studies (ELS) includes: ” Poetry, Avant garde, Musicology, Drama and Prose.
” I am very comfortable with all genres and emerging fields and Dynamics.”
He x-rays further on other pressing issues in our society that made him pen the touching stories in “Behind Every Miserable Man”, excerpts:
Prof. Opoola
What inspired the creation of the novel, “Behind every Miserable Man” ?
Dr. Larayetan: I got inspired by my experience of what some men go through that are usually NOT seen or heard of, as men would always fake or would always be made to fake being strong emotionally. I got inspired by the burning desire to state things as they are and specifically draw attention to the plights of some men.
My dedication states the need for the book: “to those men and women whom love showed _shege promax,_ yet– for whatever reason– refused to speak up”
Hmmmmn…does the novel then mean to be a mouthpiece of oppressed or suppressed or victimized men in love relationships, a kind of counter-narrative to the widely spread narrative of the patriarchal oppression in our society?
Dr. Larayetan: lt can been said so. However, the interesting twist in this novel is that, it can sufficiently be interpreted as giving voice and strength to women. So, in a way, it is what it is: a very daring captivating work that is a mouthpiece like never before.
The novelist with students of FUOYE during the launch
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) , Prof. Tajudeen Bolanle Opoola recently led a team of members of the management and members of the University ceremonies committee for the launch of the novel held inside the annex building of the faculty of arts , phase two of the main campus.
