Nigerian author Chinua Achebe dies

Chinua Achebe died at age 82 on Friday.  He is often referred to as the grandfather of African literature.  His first novel, and his most famous, Things fall apart was first published in 1958.  It is a deeply intriguing novel as it is set in pre-colonial Africa and depicts tribal life before colonisation. Chinua was an outspoken critic of colonialism and Western representations of Africa and Africans.  He has inspired generations of other African writers and paved the way for novelists like Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.  He opposed corruption in his country after colonial rule and wrote passionately about Africa in essay, novels, and poems.

Check out his books through our catalogue or try reading Things fall apart as a great introduction to his work.  The Guardian also has an article about him and his literature or read his critical essay on Conrad's Heart of Darkness here.