Chinua Achebe Page 3

Short biography of Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe was born on November 16, 1930 and died March 21, 2013. He was a Nigerian writer and professor. His first novel Things Fall Apart (1958), often considered his best, is the most widely read book in modern African literature.Born Albert Chinualumogu Achebe in Ogidi, Anambra State, he was the fifth of six children. His parents, Isaiah Okafo Achebe and Janet Anaenechi Iloegbunam, were converts to Anglicanism from traditional Igbo religion. Achebe’s father was the first man of Igbo origin to become a district commissioner in colonial Nigeria.Achebe was raised by his parents in the Igbo town of Ogidi, in what is now the state of Anambra.

He was educated in English at University College (now the University of Ibadan), where he graduated with distinction in 1952. He then attended the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) training program in London before returning to Nigeria to work for the Eastern Nigerian Ministry of Information.Things Fall Apart (1958) is the most widely read book in modern African literature. It is a staple book in schools throughout Africa and has been translated into more than fifty languages.The novel tells the story of Okonkwo, an Igbo man from the fictional village of Umuofia in southeastern Nigeria during the late 19th century. The novel follows Okonkwo’s fall from grace as he witnesses the destruction of his society by British colonial forces.Achebe’s other novels include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). He also wrote several children’s books, including How the Leopard Got His Claws (1972) and The Drum (1975).In addition to his novels, Achebe wrote several essays, including “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” (1975), in which he criticizes Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness for its portrayal of Africa and Africans.Achebe was a professor of English at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from 1960 to 1990. He then became a professor of Africana Studies at Brown University in the United States, where he taught until his retirement in 2009.Achebe was awarded the Nigerian National Order of Merit in 2004 and the Man Booker International Prize in 2007. He died on March 21, 2013, at the age of 82.

General Essay Structure for this Topic

1. The Importance of Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart
2. The Uniqueness of Chinua Achebe’s writing style
3. The Significance of the novel, Things Fall Apart
4. The Historical Accuracy of Chinua Achebe’s novel
5. The Authenticity of the Characters in Things Fall Apart
6. Themes and Symbols in Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart
7. The Structure of Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart
8. The Narrative Voice in Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart