Acclaimed writer chinua achebe, whose full name was albert chinualumogu achebe, was born in 1930 in ogidi, nigeria and died in 20 in boston, massachusetts. It has the tense narrative grip of the best fiction. Unlike other famed nigerian writers such as chimamanda ngozi adichie, with her novel half of a yellow sun, or chinua achebe s memoir there. Achebe, 16 november 1930 21 march 20 was a nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. His first novel things fall apart 1958 was considered his magnum opus, and is the most widely read book in modern african literature. When i first read chinua achebe at age 11 things fall apart, he was one of the few. Chinua achebe books list of books by author chinua achebe. There was a country, by chinua achebe the new york times. Genocidal biafran war still haunts nigeria by max siollun on october 3, 2012 article by chinua achebe in todays uk guardian claiming that nigeria is still haunted by the ghost of the biafranigeria civil war. Larson many of usold african hands, like myself, and chinua achebes millions of readershave waited for this book. Publication date 2012 topics achebe, chinua, authors, nigerian 20th century biography, nigeria history civil war, 19671970 personal narratives. He is the son of a teacher and the most widely read african novelist in history. A personal history of biafra chinua achebe the penguin press new york 2012.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read there was a country. Nov 08, 2012 emmanuel obikwu, nigerianbritish scholar historian and human rights lawyer and former biafran refugee, responds to chinua achebe s controversial 2012 book there was a country. He was raised in the large village of ogidi, one of the first centres of anglican missionary work in eastern nigeria, and is a graduate of university college, ibadan. It is also a revelatory entry into the intimate character of the writers brilliant mind and bold spirit. Christmas in biafra and other poems by chinua achebe. A great veteran of a bitter conflict looks back in sadness, and reflects on the role of words in war. Chief dr chinua achebe wrote a book titled there was a country which had sparked a lot of discussion on the pages of many of our national newspapers of the resent. Documents contradict achebe book there was a country on. One of the outstanding contributions of chinua achebe s there was a country, a personal history of biafra the last work the renowned author published before he passed away in march 20 is his eloquent explanation of the link between these two problems. A personal history of biafra by achebe, chinua isbn. When achebe was a small child, his family moved to his fathers ancestral town in what is now the state of anambra. It seems, therefore, that the book, the trouble with nigeria is a prognosis, a prophetic writing with unrivaled effect. Was biafra ever really a country, as achebe would have it.
List of books and articles about chinua achebe online. Fifty years on, nigeria struggles with memory of biafra. However, the focus of this book is biafra, as refracted through achebes experiences and beliefs. Christmas in biafra, and other poems by chinua achebe and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Chinua achebe s memoir about the moment when nigeria split apart at a cost of more than a million lives. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. This is a book for achebes admirers, or for those not unfamiliar with his work. Isbn 9781594204821for those who already know the writer of things fall apart 1958, chinua achebes memoir, there was a country, will emphasize and elucidate certain intricate or fuzzy details of his already wellknown life. Of his novels, arrow of god won the new statesmanjock campbell award, and anthills of the savannah was a finalist for the 1987 booker prize. Chinua achebe has 87 books on goodreads with 578587 ratings.
Oct 09, 2012 it feels like an old mans book but what a man. Oct 11, 2012 information about the book, there was a country. The novelist chinua achebe november 16, 1930 march 21, 20, a fine stylish and an astute social critic, is one of the bestknown african writers in the west and his novels are often assigned in university courses. He has published novels, short stories, essays, and childrens books.
The memoir with which he bookends his long career, there. He is best known for his first novel, things fall apart 1958, which is the most widely read book in modern african literature. Chinua achebes famous first novel, things fall apart, conspicuously. Foreign policy must read 2012 by books from global thinkers chinua achebe s history of biafra is a meditation on the condition of freedom. He also published several other novels, short stories, childrens books, and essays. A personal history of biafra audiobook by chinua achebe. Literary great chinua achebe on prose and politics. In the book achebe, a few weeks before his 82nd birthday, finally sets out to tell the story of his biafra. Much of the poems are reinforced by the poets employment of images and elements from the african oral tradition. Newsrescue in a recent book stoking up huge controversy, there was a country, written by nigerian writer, chinua achebe. Niyi osundare on achebe, soyinka, biafra and fathers posted on august 9, 20 by ikhide r. A personal history of biafra, follows those people into 1967 when they, confronted by economic marginalization, and, ultimately, physical attack by nigeria, declared independence and called themselves biafra. A penguin profile of chinua achebes personal history of. The titular country of achebes latest book is biafra, a breakaway republic founded in.
Reflections on achebes christmas in biafra and other poems jstor. The memoir with which he bookends his long career, there was a country, is a far more literal explanation. A graduate of university college, ibadan 1953, achebe, an igbo who wrote in english, is one of africas most acclaimed authors, and is considered by some to be the father of modern african literature. Chinua achebe project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Nigerian novelist chinua achebe addresses the steve biko memorial ceremony on the 25th anniversary of the activists death in police custody, in cape town, south africa, on september 12, 2002.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mar 16, 2012 a penguin profile of chinua achebes personal history of biafra, there was a country the defining experience of chinua achebes life was the nigerian civil war, also known as the biafran war, of. Part of me hopes that this account is biased and inaccurate, because i dont want the events to be true, i want the igbo tribe and biafra people to have provoked the horrible way they were treated so i can feel less sickened by what i learned happened. Oct 22, 2012 chinua achebes famous first novel, things fall apart, conspicuously borrows from yeats. After the long wait, his book there was a country was always going to. A personal history of biafra emerges into this landscape of memory and remembrance, forty two years after the war ended.
Chinua achebe is most famous for his novel things fall apart, published in 1958, which tells the story of an igbo villages reaction to british missionaries and colonial authorities. A personal history of biafra by chinua achebe from the legendary author of things fall apart comes a longawaited memoir about coming of age with a fragile new nation, then watching it torn asunder in a tragic civil war the defining experience of chinua achebes life was the nigerian civil war, also known as the biafran war, of 19671970. Between awolowo and achebe by soc okenwa the biafran war was fought over forty years ago between 196770 but the reverberations continue to linger. This new work is not made of the mnemonic energy of grand autobiography but of the subtle and graceful power of achebes taut prose, his. From the legendary author of things fall apart comes a longawaited memoir about coming of age with a fragile new nation, then watching it torn asunder in a tragic civil war the defining experience of chinua achebe s life was the nigerian civil war, also known as. Chinua achebe chinua achebe born albert chinualumogu achebe. Christmas in biafra and other poems achebe, chinua on. His volume of poetry christmas in biafra was the joint winner of the first commonwealth poetry prize. Larson many of usold african hands, like myself, and chinua achebe s millions of readershave waited for this book.
Following school, he joined the staff of the nigerian broadcasting corporation in lagos. Fifty years on, nigeria struggles with memory of biafra war in this file photograph taken on november 1, 1967, biafran prisoners and civilians wait at the federal camp of nakurdi, a converted outdoor movie theatre in enugu, after fighting between nigerian federal. The conflict was infamous for its savage impact on the biafran people, chinua achebe. For more than forty years achebe was silent on those terrible years, until he produced this towering reckoning with one of modern africas most fateful events. N o writer is better placed than chinua achebe to tell the. His childrens stories introduced the young and their parents to the excitement of books. Chinua achebes memoir about the moment when nigeria split apart at a cost of.
Chinua achebes famous first novel, things fall apart, conspicuously borrows from yeats. Nigeria is haunted by biafran war world news the guardian. Feb 08, 2018 chinua achebe discusses his childhood, biafra and the nigerian civil war in a fascinating, beautifully written book thats part memoir, part history and includes his poetry from the period as he covers the hope of nigerian independence to the bloodiness of civil war and the negative impact on the countrys prospects but its a highly. His final book, published last year, was about the nigerian region of biafra s unsuccessful war for independence and resulting famine, there was a country. Chinua achebe, author info, published books, bio, photo. One of africas best known authors, mr achebes debut 1958 novel things fall apart has sold more than 10 million copies. Most writers who are beginners, if they are honest with themselves, will admit that they are praying for a readership as they begin to write. Though biographical in presentation, the book is a study in nationbuilding in africa. Ikheloa please read todays kabir alabi garbas interview of professor niyi osundare in the guardian, who begat literature, august 9, 20. From the legendary author of things fall apart comes a longawaited memoir about coming of age with a fragile new nation, then watching it torn asunder in a tragic civil war the defining experience of chinua achebes life was the nigerian civil war, also known as the biafran war, of 19671970. Library of congress cataloging in publication data achebe, chinua. The trouble with nigeria by chinua achebe goodreads. Achebe s most recent book, his longawaited memoir of the nigerian biafra war, is both sad and angry, a book by a writer looking back and mourning.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. For the first 30 years of his life nigeria was a british colony and it was controlled and exploited by the british for agricultural goods such as cocoa. Used by permission of anchor books, a division of random house, inc. Collected poems is a book that celebrates the brilliance and virtuoso of a gifted writer. N o writer is better placed than chinua achebe to tell the story of the nigerian biafran war from a cultural and. While in many ways autobiographical, he successfully manages to also cover the backgrounds to and the conflict more broadly, and given his. His first novel things fall apart 1958, often considered his masterpiece, is the most widely read book in modern african literature raised by his parents in the igbo town of ogidi in southeastern nigeria. Chinua achebe, the superb nigerian and igbo novellist, has turned his hand to creating a personal history of biafra in this book. A personal history of biafra ebook written by chinua achebe. Sep 27, 2012 sept 27, 2012 chinua achebe releases memoir on biafra nigerian poet chinua achebe, often called the father of modern african literature, released his first major work in years thursday with a longawaited memoir centred on the war that nearly destroyed his nation. I came away from reading this book with the feeling that the secession of biafra was inevitable. Chinua achebe was a novelist, poet, professor at brown university and critic. A marriage of history, remembrance, poetry and vivid firsthand observation, there was a country is a work of wisdom and compassion from one of the great voices of our age. In 1960 achebe published a sequel called no longer at ease.
A personal history of biafra 2012 adds a fresh perspective to the discordant symphony of autobiographical voices that have greeted the politically turbulent postindependent nigeria, which reached its crescendo of hysteria in the nigeria biafra war 1967 1970. Surprisingly, chinua achebe wrote this book decades ago, but the realities he spoke about are still largely evident today in the present nigerian society. Christmas in biafra this sunkeneyed moment wobbling. Renowned nigerian author chinua achebe publishes his longawaited memoir, there was a country, about the brutal threeyear biafran war. The pity of it was that achebe had touched on the raw parts of the yoruba people of this country and many had commented promptly and appropriately. He attended the university of ibadan where he studied english. Thus we learn about biafras flag, its administrative structure. Sep 27, 2012 renowned nigerian author chinua achebe publishes his longawaited memoir, there was a country, about the brutal threeyear biafran war.
Every generation must recognize and embrace the task it is peculiarly designed by history and by providence to perform. Nigerian author chinua achebe things fall apart mixes memoir with. Literary great chinua achebe on prose and politics the acclaimed nigerian writer recently won the prestigious man booker international prize for his literary career. His first novel things fall apart 1958, often considered his masterpiece, 2 is the most widely read book in modern african literature. Achebes most recent book, his longawaited memoir of the nigerianbiafra war, is both sad and angry, a book by a writer looking back and mourning. Oct 02, 2012 almost 30 years before rwanda, before darfur, more than 2 million people mothers, children, babies, civilians lost their lives as a result of the blatantly callous and unnecessary policies enacted by the leaders of the federal government of nigeria. Until the biafran war 19671970 chinua achebe was best known as the. While in many ways autobiographical, he successfully manages to also cover the backgrounds to and the conflict more broadly, and given his involvement in it, surprisingly even handedly. Chinua achebe had an active and generous role in encouraging other african writers by starting the literary journal okike, by founding a publishing house in wartorn nigeria and by introducing, in his role as the founding. As a child, achebe was often regaled with stories from his family members as story telling was an integral part of igbo tradition. Oct 11, 2012 achebe does offer an anecdote about how the manuscript of things fall apart was almost lost when he mailed it off to be typed by a shady outfit in england, but it only whets ones appetite for further insights into the writers life. But not so fast the rest of nigeria wasnt exactly pleased with this.
Chinua achebe, in full albert chinualumogu achebe, born november 16, 1930, ogidi, nigeriadied march 21, 20, boston, u. This book is the latest in the everexpanding corpus of books on the nigerian civil war otherwise known as the biafra war. Chinua achebes reputation as africas greatest novelist rests largely on his first book, things fall apart, which he wrote aged 28. A personal history of biafra chronicles achebes experiences during nigerias 1967.
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