Things Fall Apart
About this book
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 Arrow of God (1964). Achebe states that his two later novels A Man of the People (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah (1987), while not featuring Okonkwo's descendants, are spiritual successors to the previous novels in chronicling African history. ---------- Contained in: African Trilogy
Reader Profile
3.8/5 · 719 readers · 196 pages · ≈ 3 h 38 m · Challenging
How long does it take to read Things Fall Apart?
About ≈ 3 h 38 m — 196 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is Things Fall Apart?
196 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is Things Fall Apart?
It sits on the Classics, Historical Fiction, History shelves.
Has Things Fall Apart been made into a movie or TV show?
Yes — screen adaptations include Things fall apart (1987).
Is Things Fall Apart in the public domain?
No — it is still under copyright.
Who are the main characters in Things Fall Apart?
The main characters include Chinua Achebe, Igbo (African people), Okonkwo.
Where does Things Fall Apart take place?
It is set in Umuofia, Nigeria, Mbanta during Late 19th century.
Who wrote Things Fall Apart?
Chinua Achebe.