Albert Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, born November 16, 1930 and died March 21, 2013, was an author, poet, professor and critic best known for his novel Things Fall Apart. Considered by many teachers and critics to be the most influential African American writer of his time, Chinua Achebe lead an academically acclaimed life, winning multiple scholarly awards, until his death at the age of 82. Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, more commonly known as Chinua Achebe, was born in Ogidi, Nigeria and died in Boston, Massachusetts. Though he endured many difficult struggles throughout his lifetime, Achebe went on to affect many people’s lives, young and old, with his writings and teachings. Albert Chinualumogu Achebe was born into the Igbo tribe in Ogidi, Nigeria

Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan for college in Nigeria. Achebe published his first novel, Things Fall Apart, which is considered to be his magnum opus, in 1958. Some of the books written by Achebe include Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, and, Anthills of the Savannah. Achebe’s most famous novel being Things Fall Apart. Things Fall Apart is a novel set in pre-colonial Nigeria. The protagonist, Okonkwo, is a famous wrestling champion. He is wealthy, masculine and has obtained a high social ranking. He strives to maintain his reputation and fights anyone who opposes him. Okonkwo accidentally kills a man defending his reputation and is forced to leave his tribe. When he returns society is totally different. This novel is just one of Achebe’s allegories to the Nigerian government’s and society’s problems. Achebe became the Director of Broadcasting for NBS and helped create the Voice of Nigeria network. Chinua Achebe also founded a publishing company called Citadel Press to benefit children’s literature in Nigeria. Achebe then became a professor of English at the University of Nigeria for five years. After this he traveled attending conferences and giving speeches. In 2009 Chinua Achebe became a professor of Africana studies at Brown University. Many critics throughout Achebe’s lifetime considered him the finest Nigerian novelist of his generation.

As a child social degradation of the Igbo tribe initiated Achebe’s struggles. In 1990 Chinua Achebe was involved in a car accident in Nigeria. Achebe was going out to celebrate his sixtieth birthday with friends when his car was hit. This accident left Chinua Achebe paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. Nigerian hospitals were unable to care for Achebe and he was sent to a hospital in England. It was there that Achebe received the news that he would not walk again. Three years of recuperation and physical therapy finally brought back the old Chinua Achebe said family and