Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans during the late 19th century. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, and one of the first to receive global critical acclaim. It is a staple book in schools throughout Africa and is widely read and studied in English-speaking countries around the world. The novel was first published in the UK in 1962 by William Heinemann Ltd, and became the first work published in Heinemann's African Writers Series. The novel follows the life of Okonkwo, an Igbo ("Ibo" in the novel) man and local wrestling champion in the fictional Nigerian clan of Umuofia. The work is split into three parts, with the first describing his family, personal history, and the customs and society of the Igbo, and the second and third sections introducing the influence of European colonialism and Christian missionaries on Okonkwo, his family, and the wider Igbo community. Things Fall Apart was followed by a sequel, No Longer at Ease (1960), originally written as the second part of a larger work along with
Themes & atmosphere
Books in conversation with Things Fall Apart
A few of the closest reads from our full list.
What you might want to know about Things Fall Apart
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
In the Igbo village of Umuofia in late nineteenth-century eastern Nigeria, the wrestler and yam farmer Okonkwo has built a compound of three wives and many barns out of shame for his lazy father.
Chinua Achebe's African Trilogy has three books: Things Fall Apart (1958), No Longer at Ease (1960), and Arrow of God (1964). The trilogy follows different generations of an Igbo family across the colonial period.
Yes. Despite being published in 1958, Things Fall Apart is one of the most-read African novels in the world and is widely taught in schools across the continent and in college courses globally.
Things Fall Apart was written by Chinua Achebe, published in 1958 by aws.
Things Fall Apart is 192 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Things Fall Apart takes most readers 3 to 4 hours to finish.
Things Fall Apart is a standalone novel by Chinua Achebe, not part of a series.
Things Fall Apart is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.