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News & ArtsFriday, March 22, 2013
Books No Longer Alive: Chinua Achebe Dead at 82
Posted by Charles Mudede on Fri, Mar 22, 2013 at 8:44 AM
Africa has lost its penultimate cultural giant, the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. His most famous work, Things Fall Apart, is the ground on which the modern African novel is built. Indeed, the appearance of this book, which happened near the middle of the previous century, marked the arrival of the African as a national subject. If one thinks this was late, recall that the German as a formal national subject only appeared in 1871. Achebe's next novel, No Longer at Ease, presented the African as a post-colonial subject. Achebe came from the vanishing world of giants.
1
Sad. As a kid I was a huge reader but I could never get into the classics for some reason. When I got to high school, I had a great teacher and she had us read Things Fall Apart. It was the first time I began to understand the joys of reading through that lens.
8
I also only read Things Fall Apart, in high school. I found it very simple, unadorned, and straightforward, and the main character compelling, the story interesting enough, dark as it was. It was pretty good book, in other words. More tellingly, it is the only African book I've ever read. That's probably the case for most Americans who've read Things Fall Apart, similar to the way Kind of Blue is the only jazz record a lot of non-jazz fans have ever heard.
9
This is sad news. I remember reading Things Fall Apart in school, though I never went back and read any of his other books. Off to add them to my reading list...
11
@2 it can also mean second best. Just like if you called something the Ulimate _____. You wouldn't mean, the worst ____.
12
@11 No, it doesn't also mean second best. And "ultimate" doesn't mean best. I"m guessing Charles' first language is not English, though, so he has an excuse.
13
Good Morning Charles,
Indeed, Africa and Nigeria in particular lost a literary giant. I read "Things Fall Apart" and "Anthills of the Savannah" after I had lived and worked in Africa. Both works are outstanding.
Chinua Achebe, RIP.
Indeed, Africa and Nigeria in particular lost a literary giant. I read "Things Fall Apart" and "Anthills of the Savannah" after I had lived and worked in Africa. Both works are outstanding.
Chinua Achebe, RIP.
14
RIP Achebe.
I think I read "Things Fall Apart" and Doris Lessing's "The Grass Is Singing" within weeks of each other when I was 21 and they both really stuck with me.
I think I read "Things Fall Apart" and Doris Lessing's "The Grass Is Singing" within weeks of each other when I was 21 and they both really stuck with me.
15
@12, it's you who does not know english and you who is not generous. second to last is what i meant. if you have 5 giants in all, and i say penultimate giant, what do you think i fucking mean? the other three are gone, there were two left. and now the penultimate one is gone. fucking hell. typos, you got me. the meaning of words, don't fuck with me.
16
Chinua Achebe was famous and a good writer. I read, "Things fall apart" "A man of the people"
"Arrow of God" and other series of short of stories. In my opinion, he is one of the best and recognized African writers of all times. He is especially famous for his Art work and African literature. The lion of Africa, we have indeed lost him.
"Arrow of God" and other series of short of stories. In my opinion, he is one of the best and recognized African writers of all times. He is especially famous for his Art work and African literature. The lion of Africa, we have indeed lost him.
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