5 episodes
Chinua Achebe Essens Book Summaries
-
- Fiction
Chinua Achebe, born Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe on November 16, 1930, was a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic who played a decisive role in the development of African literature. He is widely considered the father of modern African literature and is best known for his novel "Things Fall Apart" published in 1958. This seminal work is a cornerstone of African literature and is the most widely read book in modern African literature, having been translated into more than 50 languages.
Achebe was raised in the Igbo town of Ogidi in southeastern Nigeria. Having been educated in English at the University of Ibadan, his writing took on the complex task of reflecting the tensions between traditional Igbo culture and the effects of Christian influences and colonialism.
Influenced by the cultural and political history of his country, Achebe's writing was marked by a concern with the ethical consequences of social and political actions. His work often critiques the problems facing newly independent African states. Through his novels, which include "No Longer at Ease" (1960), "Arrow of God" (1964), "A Man of the People" (1966), and "Anthills of the Savannah" (1987), he sought to reshape the narrative of African experiences free from European biases and ideologies.
Achebe is also known for the influential essay "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'" (1975), where he denounced Joseph Conrad as a "thoroughgoing racist." This essay became a critical discourse on racism and the African representation in Western literature.
Apart from fiction, Achebe wrote political essays and involved himself in Nigerian politics. During the Nigerian Civil War, he supported the secessionist state of Biafra and worked as an ambassador for the government. Later, he taught at universities in Nigeria and the United States.
Achebe's contributions to literature and his incisive social and political commentary earned him numerous awards and honors including the Man Booker International Prize in 2007. He passed away on March 21, 2013, leaving a legacy as a storyteller who challenged readers to reconsider their perceptions of Africa.
-
Anthills of the Savannah (1987)
"Anthills of the Savannah" is a political novel by Chinua Achebe that explores the corrupt, turbulent rule of a fictional African state through the lives of three friends who must navigate the complexities of power, loyalty, and resistance.
-
Arrow of God (1964)
"Arrow of God" (1964) by Chinua Achebe is a novel set in colonial Nigeria that follows Ezeulu, the chief priest of the god Ulu, as he navigates the complex struggles between traditional Igbo practices and culture, the encroaching influences of British colonialism, and the pressures within his own community, ultimately leading to his downfall.
-
A Man of the People (1966)
"A Man of the People" is a satirical novel by Chinua Achebe that portrays the political corruption in a newly independent African nation through the narrative of Odili, a young teacher who becomes entangled in the morally dubious political machinations of his former teacher, now a corrupt politician.
-
Things Fall Apart (1958)
"Things Fall Apart" is a novel by Chinua Achebe that explores the tragic fall of the protagonist, Okonkwo, and the clash between traditional Igbo society in Nigeria and the cultural and religious changes brought by British colonialism.
-
No Longer at Ease (1960)
"No Longer at Ease" by Chinua Achebe is a novel about a young Nigerian civil servant, Obi Okonkwo, who is caught between his traditional heritage and the seductions and demands of a British-influenced colonial society, ultimately succumbing to corruption in his struggle to reconcile the two worlds.