Kenyan writer and professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o believes in never giving in to defeat and that's what his new book, "In the House of the Interpreter," is all about.

In his memoir, "In the House of the Interpreter", Kenyan writer and professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o recalls his childhood and the traumatic experiences he went through. But that didn't stop him from dreaming of a better life and that's what he wants his children to believe in.

Thiong'o recalls his childhood days when he studied in an elite boarding school - Alliance High School. Life within the four walls of the school, reveals the author, was completely different to the real life outside. While he was in school, he lived in this beautiful world but as he stepped out it no longer existed. He was reminded that his country was in a state of war and that people all around him were dying.

The professor recalls the day when he returned from school and found that his village had been destroyed by the British. He had no idea where his mom was and finding his "lost home" has always been a very traumatic thought for the author.

Thiong'o says that most of his books reflect his emotions of "searching for a lost home" and the trauma that it caused him comes through in his writings. The author also reveals that writing has given him a platform to reveal to the world the sufferings of many Kenyans.

"It's an honor to be able to tell the world about that scene of devastation that so many Kenyans are not in a position to talk about," he says to NPR.

However, this role as a writer didn't come to him easily. In 1977, he was jailed when one of his works  upset many government officials.

"This was so empowering to the community," he says. "You'd have thought that seeing intellectuals from the University of Nairobi connecting with the rural folk would be something the government would really encourage, but no. ... They used a sledgehammer to destroy the whole thing and put me in prison," Ngugi laughs.