The novelist chinua achebe november 16, 1930 march 21, 20, a fine stylish and an astute social critic, is one of the bestknown african writers in the west and his novels are often assigned in university courses. The man who rediscovered africa the novelist and political dissident captured the soul of a continent and helped me discover my own history. Chinua achebe, the internationally celebrated nigerian author, statesman and dissident who gave literary birth to modern africa with things fall. His family belonged to the igbo tribe, and he was the fifth of. Chinua achebe vs wole soyinka who is the best novelist in. His first novel, things fall apart, is regarded as one of the greatest books in modern african literature, as well as the best selling one. Many people consider chinua achebe to be the father of modern african literature. I did not see myself as an african in those books, he. Chinua achebe article about chinua achebe by the free. After graduation, he worked for the nigerian broadcasting corporation as a radio producer and director of external broadcasting. In 1960 achebe published a sequel called no longer at ease. Achebe wrote his novels in english and defended the use of english, a language of colonisers, in african literature.
His father worked for the church missionary society, and his early education was through the societys school. It is seen as the archetypal modern african novel in english, one of the first to receive global critical. Chinua achebe stands among the most influential figures of world literature. Called the father of modern african writing, chinua achebe was one of the most widely read novelists from nigeria. Chinua achebe biography childhood, life achievements. In his later books, achebe confronts the problems faced by nigeria and other newly independent african nations. I took sides with the white men against the savages, he once wrote. He got his early education in english and the igbo traditions and colonial legacy played a great part in the. In a myth told by the igbo people of nigeria, men once decided to send a messenger to. Chinua achebe is one of nigerias greatest novelists. Achebe, 16 november 1930 21 march 20 was a nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. In 19541957, achebe worked in nigerian broadcasting corporation as director of external broadcasting. Achebe wrote the novel in english, which was also a provocation to some critics who said he should have used the igbo language, but achebe wanted to speak not only to.
Born in nigeria in 1930, chinua achebe made a splash with the publication of his first novel, things fall apart, in 1958. Chinua achebe celebrity biography, zodiac sign and. After the civil war, he abandoned fiction for a period in favor of essays, short stories, and poetry. Chinua achebe examined colonialism and masculinity with a sensitive understanding about how culture functions and what it means. Drawing on the traditional igbo tales of achebes youth, the african trilogy is a literary landmark, a mythic and universal tale of modern africa. He attended the university of ibadan where he studied english. Chinua achebes novel arrow of god was published in 1964. Chinua achebe 193020 was a nigerian author and educator best known for his novel, things fall apart. His first novel things fall apart 1958 was considered his magnum opus, and is the most widely read book in modern african literature. Anthills of the savannah was chinua achebes 5 th novel, and it was published in 1987.
As toni morrison wrote, african literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of chinua achebe. Chinua achebe, the father of modern african literature, talks to ed pilkington about inventing a new language, his years in exile from his beloved nigeria and why he. Chinua achebe wrote more than 20 books novels, short stories, essays and collections of poetry including things fall apart 1958, which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 50 languages. Chinua achebe books list of books by author chinua achebe. The twoway the worldfamous nigerian author chinua achebe has died. Published in 1958, its story chronicles precolonial life in the southeastern part of nigeria and the arrival of the europeans during the late nineteenth century. Things fall apart is reputed by wikipedia to be the most widely read book in modern african literature and has made achebe the most widely translated african writer of all time. Chinua achebe has 87 books on goodreads with 580949 ratings. Achebe returned to the novel with anthills of the savannah 1988, which explores the corruption and idealism of political life in postcolonial africa.
When he was 14, he was one of a few boys selected to attend the government college at umuahia, which was one of the best schools in west africa. He went to the local public schools and was among the first students to graduate from the university of ibadan. Albert chinualumogu achebe was born in ogidi, a nigerian ibo village. His novels are written mainly for an african audience, but having been translated into more than forty languages, they have found worldwide readership. With the help of his unique writing style, he skillfully wove ancient folktales of the igbo tribe into his stories.
Chinua achebe vs wole soyinka who is the best novelist in africa. Chinua achebe, nigerias finest modern writer african. Chinua achebe is a nigerian novelist and author of things fall apart, a work that in part led to his being called the patriarch of the african novel. He affected all of africa with the novels, or books, he wrote. Chinua achebes first childrens book chike and the river was published in 1966. But while he was widely lauded worldwide, achebe never won the nobel prize for literature, unlike fellow nigerian author wole soyinka, who became the first african nobel literature laureate in 1986.
At the age of eight, achebe began to learn english. Novel summary and analysis of things fall apart by chinua. Chinua achebe examined colonialism and masculinity the. The ibo clan practices common tribal traditionsworship of gods, sacrifice, communal living, war, and magic. Albert chinualumogo achebe known as chinua achebe is one living african writer widely acclaimed for his work in english literature. Chinua achebe and the great african novel the new yorker. He also published several other novels, short stories, childrens books, and essays. Chinua achebe in 2008 at bard college in annandaleonhudson, new york, where he was a professor at the time.
He perused so many foreign literature books and he wrote so many essays and short stories before he graduated from university of ibadan. Chinua achebe is most famous for his novel things fall apart, published in 1958, which tells the story of an igbo villages reaction to british missionaries and colonial authorities. Things fall apart is a novel written by nigerian author chinua achebe. He blames the nations problems on the lack of leadership in nigeria since its independence. Racism in conrads heart of darkness featured a criticism of joseph conrad as a thoroughgoing racist. He wrote novels, poems, short stories and childrens books. A graduate of university college, ibadan 1953, achebe, an igbo who wrote in english, is one of africas most acclaimed authors, and is considered by some to be the father of modern african literature. He also wrote four childrens books including chike and the river and how the leopard got his claws. Following school, he joined the staff of the nigerian broadcasting corporation in lagos. Born to christian evangelical parents he was raised in a town ogidi,in igboland, in eastern nigeria.
His first novel, things falls apart, became a classic of international literature and required reading for students worldwide. Chinua achebe biography and literary works of chinua achebe. In addition to writing novels, he also wrote short stories, poems, and childrens books. Together these three books are often referred to as the african trilogy.
Things fall apart book by chinua achebe thriftbooks. His first novel things fall apart 1958, often considered his best, is the most widely read book in modern african literature. Beware, soul brother and other poems 1971, winner of the commonwealth poetry prize. Chinua achebe biography list of works, study guides. Further study achebe at the crossroads of european modernism and african realism when chinua achebe wrote things fall apart in the late 1950s, he was responding to centuries of european writing that had portrayed africa as a dark continent, plagued by savagery and superstition. Chinua achebe, nigerian novelist, nigerian author, wrote the things fall apart, was born albert chinualumogu achebe on november 16, 1930, in the igbo town of ogidi in eastern nigeria. Writer chinua achebe was born in the village of ogidi in eastern nigeria. Ogidi was a focal point of anglican missionary outreach in nigeria, and the towns role in this process likely influenced his views on the westernization and christianization of precolonial nigerian cultures.
Chinua achebe biography life, family, children, parents. He also authored four subsequent novels, two shortstory collections, and numerous other books. Chinua achebe was born on november 15, 1930, in ogidi in eastern nigeria. Acclaimed writer chinua achebe, whose full name was albert chinualumogu achebe, was born in 1930 in ogidi, nigeria and died in 20 in boston, massachusetts. As a student, achebe immersed himself in western literature. List of books and articles about chinua achebe online. Writer in whose company the prison walls fell down. The story of chinua achebe s novel things fall apart takes place in the nigerian village of umuofia in the late 1880s, before missionaries and other outsiders have arrived. Chinua achebe, the father of modern african literature.
He also wrote the childrens books how the leopard got his claws 1972, the flute 1975, and the drum 1978. He also wrote numerous short stories, childrens books, and essays. He always highlighted cultural values in those tales. His universally acclaimed novel, things fall apart, is one of the best books in the world. Why did chinua achebe write things fall apart answers. He was born into the igbo tribe, one of the countrys three major tribal groups. This is achebes third novel after his books no longer at ease and things fall apart. His father became a christian and worked for a missionary teacher in various parts of nigeria before returning to the village.
Nigerian writer chinua achebe died on march 21, 20, at the age of 82, in boston, massachusetts, after a brief illness. He also wrote and published several childrens books that express his basic views in forms and language understandable to young readers. Chinua achebe was a nigerian writer and professor made famous by his debut novel, things fall apart. Chinua achebe, author info, published books, bio, photo.
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