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Things Fall Apart (Norton Critical Editions)…
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Things Fall Apart (Norton Critical Editions) (original 1958; edition 2008)

by Chinua Achebe, Francis Abiola Irele (Editor)

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299587,256 (3.68)11
"Things Fall Apart is one of the most widely read African novels ever published. It is written by one of Nigeria s leading novelists, Chinua Achebe. Set in the Ibo village of Umuofia, Things Fall Apart recounts a stunning moment in African history - its colonization by Britain. The novel, first published in 1958, has by today sold over 8 million copies, been translated into at least forty-five languages, and earned Achebe the somewhat misleading and patronizing title of "the man who invented African literature." It carefully re-creates tribal life before the arrival of Europeans in Africa, and then details the jarring changes brought on by the advent of colonialism and Christianity. The book is a parable that examines the colonial experience from an African perspective, through Okonkwo, who was "a strong individual and an Igbo hero struggling to maintain the cultural integrity of his people against the overwhelming power of colonial rule." Okonkwo is banished from the community for accidentally killing a clansman and is forced to live seven years in exile. He returns to his home village, only to witness its disintegration as it abandons tradition for European ways. The book describes the simultaneous disintegration of Okonkwo and his village, as his pleas to his people not to exchange their culture for that of the English fall on deaf ears. The brilliance of Things Fall Apart is that it addresses the imposition of colonization and the crisis in African culture caused by the collapse of colonial rule. Achebe prophetically argued that colonial domination and the culture it left in Africa had such a stranglehold on African peoples that its consequences would haunt African society long after colonizers had left the continent. A Chronology of Achebe's life and work and a Selected Bibliography are also included."--Pub. desc.… (more)
Member:hjones22
Title:Things Fall Apart (Norton Critical Editions)
Authors:Chinua Achebe
Other authors:Francis Abiola Irele (Editor)
Info:W.W. Norton & Co. (2008), Paperback, 598 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:****
Tags:None

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Things Fall Apart [Norton Critical Edition] by Chinua Achebe (1958)

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Showing 5 of 5
This was a tough read for me. I nearly bailed 1/3 of the way through. The Igbo society depicted is extremely misogynistic. The MC, Okonkwo beats two of his wives within the first 30 pages and is notorious for his temper. But, I’m glad I stuck with it, especially once I got past Part One and into the MC’s exile.

The details of the culture were fascinating, especially some of the rituals and their judicial system. Their judicial system was really interesting. But at the heart of this novel, is the struggle of the clan to survive and adapt when the white man comes. Colonialism, especially as presented here, is a plague.

There is so much more I want to say, but I don’t want to risk any spoilers. Many of the themes resonate even in modern society, which I think is a hallmark of a true classic. Do yourself a favor and read this. It’s short, but powerful. It is going to poke at my psyche for quite some time to come. ( )
  DGRachel | Apr 2, 2019 |
this is a wonderful book! you must read before u die! :D ( )
  a.erhueh.33558 | Sep 6, 2011 |
Loaned to me by a co-worker, I largely read this overnight of the 21st. A very interesting book, and very well written. It struck me as being a good first person account of the encounter by one civilization being overwhelmed by another--and in that respect struck me as the flip side of the accounts of roman missionaries in late classical western Europe...
  bohannon | Mar 25, 2011 |
This book started out slow for me and it did not pick up until part two. I found all the different African names confusing and hard to keep up with. Overall the main character, Okonkwo, was quite depressing. I wish Okonkwo's daughter, Enzinma, character would have been developed more. Enzima was my favorite character throughout the entire story.

Even though the beginning was somewhat rough to get through, I like how the story developed. Okonkwo was such a complex character. His childhood demons followed him all his life. It was like a dark cloud hovered over his emotions. Personally, I believe that Okonkwo's broken spirit led to his horrible death. The ending really pierced me. ( )
  pinkcrayon99 | Feb 24, 2010 |
One of the most famous post-colonial novels from Africa. ( )
  puckandhammie | Aug 20, 2009 |
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"Things Fall Apart is one of the most widely read African novels ever published. It is written by one of Nigeria s leading novelists, Chinua Achebe. Set in the Ibo village of Umuofia, Things Fall Apart recounts a stunning moment in African history - its colonization by Britain. The novel, first published in 1958, has by today sold over 8 million copies, been translated into at least forty-five languages, and earned Achebe the somewhat misleading and patronizing title of "the man who invented African literature." It carefully re-creates tribal life before the arrival of Europeans in Africa, and then details the jarring changes brought on by the advent of colonialism and Christianity. The book is a parable that examines the colonial experience from an African perspective, through Okonkwo, who was "a strong individual and an Igbo hero struggling to maintain the cultural integrity of his people against the overwhelming power of colonial rule." Okonkwo is banished from the community for accidentally killing a clansman and is forced to live seven years in exile. He returns to his home village, only to witness its disintegration as it abandons tradition for European ways. The book describes the simultaneous disintegration of Okonkwo and his village, as his pleas to his people not to exchange their culture for that of the English fall on deaf ears. The brilliance of Things Fall Apart is that it addresses the imposition of colonization and the crisis in African culture caused by the collapse of colonial rule. Achebe prophetically argued that colonial domination and the culture it left in Africa had such a stranglehold on African peoples that its consequences would haunt African society long after colonizers had left the continent. A Chronology of Achebe's life and work and a Selected Bibliography are also included."--Pub. desc.

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