Things Fall Apart Add a review

Things Fall Apart is the 1958 debut novel novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Set in Colonial Nigeria and 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 he was working at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, it was first published in London by Heinemann on 17 June 1958.

It was later followed by No Longer at Ease in 1960 and Arrow of God in 1964, which together make up the "African trilogy". 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 over fifty languages. It was listed on Time's "100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005".

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.