CHINUA ACHEBE

Chinua Achebe is generally regarded as Africa's greatest- ever novelist. Certainly his novel, Things fall apart (1958) has been phenomenally successful all over the world.  

Achebe would later go on to publish other excellent novels - No longer at ease, Arrow of God, A man of the people, and Anthills of the Savanna. He retains his touch as an excellent story-teller faithful to his communities, be it old Igbo villages, or modern Nigerian society with pertinent Pidgin English. 
 

In his native country, Nigeria Achebe would garner some criticism for his last major publication, There was a country (2012) - but his reputation and fame worldwide remain as solid as ever.   
 

Chinua Achebe was born on Nov 16 1930 in Ogidi, Nigeria. His memories of his childhood in the village would come in useful later when he penned his powerful novels, especially in Things fall apart, and Arrow of God.   

He studied English and Literature at (now) University of Ibadan, and apparently he became disenchanted with the way established white writers portrayed African peoples in their fiction. He never hid his criticism of writers like Joyce Cary and Joseph Conrad.

Achebe became a teacher, and then became part of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. He began to publish his novels to great acclaim, and became a Research fellow at University of Nigeria; and a Professor Emeritus there from 1985.

Later in life after a horrific accident, Achebe lectured in American Universities. He was a revered, celebrated literary figure, thanks mainly to his novels - with Things fall apart, outstanding.   

Achebe's works of essays, criticism also stand out; from Morning Yet on Creation Day, Home and Exile, to There was a Country. In The trouble with Nigeria he pondered on the travails of his native country, blaming inadequate leadership for the plight of Nigeria.  

It was a very sad day for African and world literature when Chinua Achebe died in 2013 – the genius who had done much more than anybody else to put African writing on the global map...

 
BOOKS BY CHINUA ACHEBE

Novels
Things Fall Apart (1958) No longer at ease (1960) Arrow of God (1964) A Man of the People (1966) Anthills of the Savannah (1987)

Short Stories
The Sacrificial Egg and Other Stories (1953) Girls at War and Other Stories (1973) African Short Stories (editor, with C.L. Innes) (1985) Heinemann Book of Contemporary African Short Stories (editor, with C.L. Innes) (1992) The Voter

Poetry
Beware, Soul-Brother, and Other Poems (1971) (published in the US as Christmas at Biafra, and Other Poems, 1973) Don't let him die: An anthology of memorial poems for Christopher Okigbo (editor, with Dubem Okafor) (1978) Another Africa (1998) Collected Poems (2005) Refugee Mother And Child

Essays, Criticism and Political Commentary
The Novelist as Teacher (1965) An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” (1975) Morning Yet on Creation Day (1975) The Trouble With Nigeria (1984) Hopes and Impediments (1988) Home and Exile (2000) Education of a British protected Child (2009)

Children's Books
Chike and the River (1966) How the Leopard Got His Claws (with John Iroaganachi) (1972) The Flute (1975) The Drum (1978)


Some studies:

Chinua Achebe: a biography. By Ezenwa-Ohaeto

Chinua Achebe. By Catherine Lynette Innes

Chinua Achebe. By David Carroll

The novels of Chinua Achebe. By G. D Killam

Achebe's world: the historical and cultural context of the novels of Chinua Achebe. By
Robert M Wren

Achebe or Soyinka? : a study in contrasts. By Kole Omotoso

Achebe the orator : the art of persuasion in Chinua Achebe's novels. By Chinwe Okechukwu