Things Fall Apart:Things Fall Apart:An introductionAn introduction

A novel by Chinua AchebeA novel by Chinua Achebe

Nigeria: British ColonyNigeria: British Colony

Area been occupied since at least 9000 Area been occupied since at least 9000 BCEBCE

Portuguese established port: Lagos – Portuguese established port: Lagos – used to trade slavesused to trade slaves

After Napoleonic Wars, British began After Napoleonic Wars, British began trade, took over as colonial power in trade, took over as colonial power in 18851885

British divided the area into two British divided the area into two sections and set up colonial governmentsections and set up colonial government

Several wars fought between British Several wars fought between British and Nigerians in 1897 and 1901-1902and Nigerians in 1897 and 1901-1902

Nigeria was not independent until Oct., Nigeria was not independent until Oct., 19601960

Chinua AchebeChinua Achebe1930-present1930-present

AchebeAchebe

Born in southeastern Nigeria, Igbo Born in southeastern Nigeria, Igbo villagevillage

Raised by Christian parentsRaised by Christian parents Won a scholarship to attend Won a scholarship to attend

Government College, set up by British Government College, set up by British colonial government; began to colonial government; began to discover literaturediscover literature

Attended new University College in Attended new University College in Nigeria, again set up by BritishNigeria, again set up by British

After graduation Achebe began teaching After graduation Achebe began teaching but left after a few months to take a job but left after a few months to take a job with the Nigerian Broadcasting Service with the Nigerian Broadcasting Service where he wrote scriptswhere he wrote scripts

Also began working on his own novel, in Also began working on his own novel, in EnglishEnglish

1956 he was selected to go to London for 1956 he was selected to go to London for training at the BBC – first trip outside training at the BBC – first trip outside NigeriaNigeria

Brought manuscript with him, received Brought manuscript with him, received feedback and offer for publishing, which feedback and offer for publishing, which he declined, saying manuscript needed he declined, saying manuscript needed more workmore work

The birth of The birth of Things Fall Things Fall ApartApart

1958 had final copy of manuscript, which 1958 had final copy of manuscript, which he sent to London: he sent to London: Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart– Name comes from poem by YeatsName comes from poem by Yeats

Initially rejected by several publishers who Initially rejected by several publishers who felt African fiction had no market basefelt African fiction had no market base

Finally printed in June, 1958; received very Finally printed in June, 1958; received very good reviews from British pressgood reviews from British press

In Nigeria, could not believe one of their In Nigeria, could not believe one of their students had written a meaningful novelstudents had written a meaningful novel

Nigerian Independence Nigerian Independence

Achebe went on to write another Achebe went on to write another novel, novel, No Longer at EaseNo Longer at Ease, which , which follows the grandson of Okonkwo, the follows the grandson of Okonkwo, the protagonist of protagonist of Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart, set , set as Nigeria becomes independent as Nigeria becomes independent

Was director of NBS as Nigeria Was director of NBS as Nigeria became independent became independent

Achebe: Voice of African Achebe: Voice of African writerswriters

Achebe began to play a role in Achebe began to play a role in advancing other African literatureadvancing other African literature

Became General Editor for African Became General Editor for African Writers Series at HeinemannWriters Series at Heinemann

Achebe published two more novels, Achebe published two more novels, both touching on the effect of both touching on the effect of colonization on traditional African colonization on traditional African culture:culture:– Arrow of GodArrow of God, 1964, 1964– A Man of the PeopleA Man of the People, 1966, 1966

Civil WarCivil War

1967, southeast 1967, southeast region of Nigeria region of Nigeria broke away – broke away – where Achebe was where Achebe was bornborn

Set up Republic of Set up Republic of BiafraBiafra

Achebe and BiafraAchebe and Biafra Relations between Nigeria and Biafra Relations between Nigeria and Biafra

strainedstrained Achebe’s house was bombed, family forced Achebe’s house was bombed, family forced

to flee violenceto flee violence Achebe served as an ambassadorAchebe served as an ambassador Criticized Britain for backing Nigeria during Criticized Britain for backing Nigeria during

conflict, stating Nigerian government was conflict, stating Nigerian government was the same as the colonial, only now blackthe same as the colonial, only now black– Still oppressing the people and enabling white Still oppressing the people and enabling white

forces to be in powerforces to be in powerBiafran bid for independence ended in 1970 Biafran bid for independence ended in 1970

when the Biafran military surrendered when the Biafran military surrendered

Life as a scholarLife as a scholar Achebe returned to writingAchebe returned to writing

– Wrote controversial Wrote controversial An Image of Africa: Racism An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”

Began teaching at the University of Nigeria Began teaching at the University of Nigeria in 1976in 1976

1987, his fifth book, 1987, his fifth book, Anthills of the Anthills of the SavannahSavannah published published

1990, began teaching literature and writing 1990, began teaching literature and writing at Bard College in New Yorkat Bard College in New York

In Fall 2009, took a position at Brown In Fall 2009, took a position at Brown University, where he is todayUniversity, where he is today

More than 8 million copies of More than 8 million copies of TFATFA sold to sold to datedate