Things Fall Apart: Chinua Achebe - Softcover

Achebe, Chinua

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141023384 ISBN 13: 9780141023380

Publisher: Penguin Classics, 2006

Synopsis

One of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World'

A worldwide bestseller and the first part of Achebe's African Trilogy, Things Fall Apart is the compelling story of one man's battle to protect his community against the forces of change

Okonkwo is the greatest wrestler and warrior alive, and his fame spreads throughout West Africa like a bush-fire in the harmattan. But when he accidentally kills a clansman, things begin to fall apart. Then Okonkwo returns from exile to find missionaries and colonial governors have arrived in the village. With his world thrown radically off-balance he can only hurtle towards tragedy.

First published in 1958, Chinua Achebe's stark, coolly ironic novel reshaped both African and world literature, and has sold over ten million copies in forty-five languages. This arresting parable of a proud but powerless man witnessing the ruin of his people begins Achebe's landmark trilogy of works chronicling the fate of one African community, continued in Arrow of God and No Longer at Ease.

'His courage and generosity are made manifest in the work' Toni Morrison

'The writer in whose company the prison walls fell down' Nelson Mandela

'A great book, that bespeaks a great, brave, kind, human spirit' John Updike

With an Introduction by Biyi Bandele

About this title

Review:

One of the most widely read novels from Nigeria's most famous novelist, Things Fall Apart is a gripping study of the problem of European colonialism in Africa. The story relates the cultural collision that occurs when Christian English missionaries arrive among the Ibos of Nigeria, bringing along their European ways of life and religion. In the novel, the Nigerian Okonkwo recognizes the cultural imperialism of the white men and tries to show his own people how their own society will fall apart if they exchange their own cultural core for that of the English.

Review:

"Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent."
--Nadine Gordimer, "The New York Times Book Review"
""Things Fall Apart" may well be Africa's best loved novel. . . . For so many readers around the world, it is Chinua Achebe who opened up the magic casements of African fiction." --Kwame Anthony Appiah
"Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent."
--Nadine Gordimer, "The New York Times Book Review"
"A vivid imagination illuminates every page. . . . This novel genuinely succeeds in penetrating tribal life from the inside."
--"Times Literary Supplement"

"From the Trade Paperback edition."

""Things Fall Apart" may well be Africa's best loved novel. . . . For so many readers around the world, it is Chinua Achebe who opened up the magic casements of African fiction."
--Kwame Anthony Appiah

"Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent."
--Nadine Gordimer, "The New York Times Book Review
"
"A vivid imagination illuminates every page. . . . This novel genuinely succeeds in penetrating tribal life from the inside."
--"Times Literary Supplement"
"From the Trade Paperback edition."

"Things Fall Apart may well be Africa's best loved novel. . . . For so many readers around the world, it is Chinua Achebe who opened up the magic casements of African fiction."
--Kwame Anthony Appiah
"Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent."
--Nadine Gordimer, "The New York Times Book Review
"
"A vivid imagination illuminates every page. . . . This novel genuinely succeeds in penetrating tribal life from the inside."
--"Times Literary Supplement"
"As old as the novel is, Things Fall Apart by Professor Chinua Achebe, is one book that has captured the heart of most intellects and readers across the world. It is probably one of the books that will live forever going by the calibers of people in the world that testify to its originality. . . . Achebe's wise and subtle story-telling cuts to the heart of these tribal people with humanity, warmth and humour."
--"Daily Independent" (Nigeria)

"From the Trade Paperback edition."

Things Fall Apart may well be Africa's best loved novel. . . . For so many readers around the world, it is Chinua Achebe who opened up the magic casements of African fiction.
Kwame Anthony Appiah
Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent.
Nadine Gordimer, "The New York Times Book Review
"
"A vivid imagination illuminates every page. . . . This novel genuinely succeeds in penetrating tribal life from the inside."
"Times Literary Supplement"
As old as the novel is, Things Fall Apart by Professor Chinua Achebe, is one book that has captured the heart of most intellects and readers across the world. It is probably one of the books that will live forever going by the calibers of people in the world that testify to its originality. . . . Achebe s wise and subtle story-telling cuts to the heart of these tribal people with humanity, warmth and humour.
"Daily Independent" (Nigeria)

"From the Trade Paperback edition.""

Things Fall Apart may well be Africa's best loved novel. . . . For so many readers around the world, it is Chinua Achebe who opened up the magic casements of African fiction.
Kwame Anthony Appiah
Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent.
Nadine Gordimer, The New York Times Book Review

"A vivid imagination illuminates every page. . . . This novel genuinely succeeds in penetrating tribal life from the inside."
Times Literary Supplement
As old as the novel is, Things Fall Apart by Professor Chinua Achebe, is one book that has captured the heart of most intellects and readers across the world. It is probably one of the books that will live forever going by the calibers of people in the world that testify to its originality. . . . Achebe s wise and subtle story-telling cuts to the heart of these tribal people with humanity, warmth and humour.
Daily Independent (Nigeria)"

Praise for Chinua Achebe
"A magical writer--one of the greatest of the twentieth century." --Margaret Atwood
"African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe." --Toni Morrison
"Chinua Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent." --Nadine Gordimer
"Achebe's influence should go on and on . . . teaching and reminding that all humankind is one." --The Nation

"The father of African literature in the English language and undoubtedly one of the most important writers of the second half of the twentieth century." --Caryl Phillips, The Observer

"We are indebted to Achebe for reminding us that art has social and moral dimension--a truth often obscured." --Chicago Tribune

"He is one of the few writers of our time who has touched us with a code of values that will never be ironic." --Michael Ondaatje
"For so many readers around the world, it is Chinua Achebe who opened up the magic casements of African fiction." --Kwame Anthony Appiah
"[Achebe] is one of world literature's great humane voices." --Times Literary Supplement
"Achebe is one of the most distinguished artists to emerge from the West African cultural renaissance of the post-war world." --The Sunday Times (London)
"[Achebe is] a powerful voice for cultural decolonization." --The Village Voice
"Chinua Achebe has shown that a mind that observes clearly but feels deeply enough to afford laughter may be more wise than all the politicians and journalists." --Time

"The power and majesty of Chinua Achebe's work has, literally, opened the world to generations of readers. He is an ambassador of art, and a profound recorder of the human condition." --Michael Dorris

Praise for Chinua Achebe

"A magical writer--one of the greatest of the twentieth century." --Margaret Atwood

"African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe." --Toni Morrison

"Chinua Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent." --Nadine Gordimer

"Achebe's influence should go on and on . . . teaching and reminding that all humankind is one." --The Nation

"The father of African literature in the English language and undoubtedly one of the most important writers of the second half of the twentieth century." --Caryl Phillips, The Observer

"We are indebted to Achebe for reminding us that art has social and moral dimension--a truth often obscured." --Chicago Tribune

"He is one of the few writers of our time who has touched us with a code of values that will never be ironic." --Michael Ondaatje

"For so many readers around the world, it is Chinua Achebe who opened up the magic casements of African fiction." --Kwame Anthony Appiah

"[Achebe] is one of world literature's great humane voices." --Times Literary Supplement

"Achebe is one of the most distinguished artists to emerge from the West African cultural renaissance of the post-war world." --The Sunday Times (London)

"[Achebe is] a powerful voice for cultural decolonization." --The Village Voice

"Chinua Achebe has shown that a mind that observes clearly but feels deeply enough to afford laughter may be more wise than all the politicians and journalists." --Time

"The power and majesty of Chinua Achebe's work has, literally, opened the world to generations of readers. He is an ambassador of art, and a profound recorder of the human condition." --Michael Dorris

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0141023384
• ISBN 13: 9780141023380
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208