Things Fall Apart
Debut novel by Chinua Achebe, milestone in African literature.
Things Fall Apart is the 1958 debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Set in Colonial Nigeria, it portrays the story of Okonkwo, a traditional and influential leader of the fictional Igbo clan of Umuofia, who opposes colonialism and early Christianity. Written when Achebe was working at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, it was first published in London by Heinemann on 17 June 1958. The novel's title was taken from a verse of "The Second Coming", a 1919 poem by Irish poet W. B. Yeats. Things Fall Apart is regarded as a milestone in African literature. It gained critical acclaim and popularity upon publication, and has been translated into many languages.
- published
- 17 June 1958
- author
- Chinua Achebe
- nationality
- Nigerian
- genre
- Novel
- known_for
- Portraying Igbo culture and the impact of colonialism
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Things Fall Apart was written while Achebe worked at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. After graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1953, Achebe became a teacher before working at the NBC the following year. During his stay at NBC, he started writing the manuscript. In 1957, he removed the second and third parts of the manuscript, leaving only the story of Okonkwo. He restructured the book and added new paragraphs and chapters. Achebe saw an advertisement in The Spectator and sent copies of his handwritten manuscript to a typing agency in London by ordinary mail. After sending the requested fee of £22, he heard nothing for months. His colleague Angela Beattie retrieved the dust-covered manuscripts from the agency when she went to London, and sent one typed copy to Achebe in Lagos. Several publishing houses rejected the typescript, giving the reason that fiction by African writers possessed no financial potential. The typescript was eventually taken to the office of William Heinemann, where it came to the attention of Alan Hill. The manuscript was published as Things Fall Apart in hardback on 17 June 1958 with around 2000 print copies. It achieved instant acclaim in the British national press. The novel's title was taken from a verse of "The Second Coming", a 1919 poem by Irish poet W. B. Yeats. It was later followed by No Longer at Ease in 1960 and Arrow of God in 1964, which together make up the "African trilogy".
Reader's Guide
Things Fall Apart is regarded as a milestone in Anglophone African literature, and for the perception of African literature in the West. It is studied widely in Africa, Europe, and North America, where it has been the subject of secondary and tertiary analytical works. It has been translated into over 50 languages. Before the publication of Things Fall Apart, most novels about Africa were written by Europeans and portrayed Africans as savages in need of Western enlightenment. However, the novel paved the way for representations of African culture not created by outsiders; the novel influenced other African writers to write about the social, historical, and cultural aspects of modern Africa. The novel was listed on Time's "100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005". On 5 November 2019, BBC listed the novel on its list of the 100 most influential novels. It was also listed by Britannica as one of the 12 "Greatest Books Ever Written". In 2024, the novel was recognised as one of the 50 Most Influential Books of All Time by the Open Education Data Base (OEDB). The novel has had several adaptations, including Okonkwo, a 1961 radio drama by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and Things Fall Apart, a 1971 film which starred Princess Elizabeth of Tooro.
Did You Know?
- The novel's title was taken from a verse of "The Second Coming", a 1919 poem by Irish poet W. B. Yeats.
- Achebe's colleague Angela Beattie retrieved the dust-covered manuscript from a corner of a London typing agency after he had heard nothing for months.
- Several publishing houses rejected the typescript, giving the reason that fiction by African writers possessed no financial potential.
- The novel was first published in hardback on 17 June 1958 with around 2000 print copies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Things Fall Apart and when was it first published?
Things Fall Apart is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first released in London by Heinemann on 17 June 1958. Achebe was working at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation at the time he completed the book.
Who is the protagonist of Things Fall Apart?
The novel centers on Okonkwo, a respected and forceful leader within the fictional Igbo village of Umuofia. He is defined by his fierce resistance to both British colonial rule and the spread of Christianity among his people.
Where does the title 'Things Fall Apart' come from?
Achebe borrowed the phrase from a line in W. B. Yeats' 1919 poem 'The Second Coming.' It evokes the sense of a once-ordered world unraveling, which mirrors the disintegration of Igbo society under colonial pressure.
What is Things Fall Apart about in broad terms?
Set in pre-colonial and early-colonial Nigeria, the novel traces the life of Okonkwo and his community as British administrators and missionaries gradually dismantle traditional Igbo governance, religion, and social structures. It is essentially a story about cultural collision and the loss of an indigenous way of life.
Why is Things Fall Apart considered a landmark in world literature?
It is widely regarded as a defining work of African literature because it presents Igbo culture from an insider's perspective rather than through a European lens. The novel challenged the dominant colonial narratives of its era and helped establish a new voice for African writers on the global stage.
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