“Half of a Yellow Sun" by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie takes place in the shadows of the Biafran War. While Odenigbo, a professor of mathematics and in his heart a revolutionary, fights against the injustices of colonial rule, his houseboy Ugwu takes his first tentative steps into life beyond family and village community. Olanna is growing up in a rich Igbo family, but despite her stunning beauty, she is not very self-confident. She gives up her privileged life for her love to Odenigbo. Olanna’s twin sister Kainene is not beautiful, but sharp-tongued, idiosyncratic, and a successful businesswoman. Her attraction to the awkward British writer Richard remains one of her many secrets, in contrast to Richard's frank fascination and unconditional love for Kainene and later for Biafra.