From the Wole Soyinka's Interview About Chinua Achebe Thread

Prof Corruption: Achebe's most read novel, Things Fall Apart, is not his best.

Arrow of God is better in richness, deployment of literary and artistic tools. Things Fall Apart is more successful as a political tool than a literary masterpiece. It's a counter narrative to repudiate the western imperial image of Africa.

An opinion I agree with.

Arrow of God is denser with detail than Things Fall Apart, with a good deal more technical discussion of the rituals and concepts underlying Igbo religious customs and with a larger and more fleshed-out cast of characters. It is also a far more interesting read IMO.

I Believe That 'Things Fall Apart' Is The Author's Most Sensational Work. It Is Deep And Quite Rich. It Is The Only Book That Explains More About The Igbo Clans As Much As Mario Puzo's 'The Godfather' About The Mafia.

Nah it wasn't,I think 'Man of the people' is better cos av read it twice every year for the last 15years n I think the book still maintains its relevance in our society till date especially in tribalism n politics

If that's his best work i can't really say, since i haven't gone through all his work yet, but it is the most popular, Arrow of God isn't a bad novel too.

As an outsider to the literature world, I am not authorized to give any major opinion, however, almost all the people I know that are professional in literature world have said so.

Note that Achebe wrote Things fall apart when he was young and inexperienced, so it is very possible and likely correct. Thank God the book has commercial success however, it doesn't make it the best. QED.

semid4lyfe: From the [url=/1294694/wole-soyinkas-interview-chinua-achebe]Wole Soyinka's Interview About Chinua Achebe[/url] Thread



An opinion I agree with.

Arrow of God is denser with detail than Things Fall Apart, with a good deal more technical discussion of the rituals and concepts underlying Igbo religious customs and with a larger and more fleshed-out cast of characters. It is also a far more interesting read IMO.

TFA sold millions of copies, translated in over 50 languages and in many schools all over the world. For me it is.

Unarguably so.
I also liked Anthills of the Savannah,No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God
and the so-called "controversial" "There was a country"

I've always said it that there's no such this being best. It's a matter of personal opinion. "Things Fall Apart" just happen's to be Achebe's most sensational work.

I've read Anthills (several times over as a set work in sec. school) and TFA.

I preferred TFA by a long mile.

different strokes for different folks. for me, i believe things fall apart is his best.

Okija juju: Yes..

In fact, I dont think he wrote another book after that.. Okay! maybe Arrow of the Gods

That last book of his 'There was a country', for me no follow.

Well said, Mr. Juju. "There was a Country" was simply a personal memoir and in my opinion does not deserve the controversy that it generated. It was simply a man talking about his life, and nothing more.

My best is No longer at ease.

Arrow of God is undoubtedly his best work. Read it

luvable sam: Nah it wasn't,I think 'Man of the people' is better cos av reed twice every year for the last 15years n I think the book still maintains its relevance in our society till date especially in tribalism n politics

I am so happy for this thread, 'A man of the people' was exquisite but for me 'Arrows of the Gods' may be the best African novel I have read and among my top 5 best works from any author. AotG was just incredible in execution, style but most of in story. It was so tragic I think I cried at the end because for me, I felt pathetic for Ezeulu but more importantly I saw the degradation that came with colonial rule for the preset governmental structure. It was the best work Achebe ever did

Chris†Kid:
TFA sold millions of copies, translated in over 50 languages and in many schools all over the world. For me it is.

is it true upon all translation of TFA,no translation to IGBO or any naija languages?

Arrow of God...

Achebe wrote books that seared your consciousness and took you to the scene in 3rd-party observation. I lived in colonial and post-colonial era simply through his books especially No Longer At Ease. Damn, i don't know how he achieved that ability to transport the reader to the setting of his story and project the thoughts of both himself and his characters.

I remember a funny scene in NLAE where Obi Okonkwo went to see his girlfriend in his small car and because a big chief cabinet minister in a big car had settled the aged gateman, of course there was no respect left to give Obi. At a point when the disrespect was becoming too much, our man Obi chides the old gateman, "Don't be silly!", the gateman promptly fires back, "Be silly!".. CLASSIC!

Most of his works ..I love so much ...I prefer the Drama of Things fall Apart to the Novel...I so much love .No longer at Ease..I read it first @the age of 11..Since then I try to read it atleast every 2years....I love his works cos of the spicy African stories blended in all his Novels...Wish I can write and imagine like him

RIP Prof ...You affected lives positively

Chris†Kid:
TFA sold millions of copies, translated in over 50 languages and in many schools all over the world. For me it is.

You are totally missing the point.

'No longer at ease' is my best, once I pick it up, I hardly drop it till I'm through.

Freiburger: If that's his best work i can't really say, since i haven't gone through all his work yet, but it is the most popular, Arrow of God isn't a bad novel too.

It is the most popular among the works of Achebe but not the best, Man of the people is way ahead but less popular...

I wonder what did Nigerians (IGBOS especially) learn from his work. how many reverted to Traditional Religion?

i still prefer eze goes to school

Cant say because with all sincerity i have never read any of his books may be because i dont like reading novel.
~cover my head in shame~ :-x

Okija juju: Yes..

In fact, I dont think he wrote another book after that.. Okay! maybe Arrow of the Gods

That last book of his 'There was a country', for me no follow.

Nwokem ina ako akuko ka onye agbara ogwu anwu na isi

I like Chike and the river because my name is Chike and i like swimming

una no dey tire ?

My Best is " THERE WAS A COUNTRY"....because that country would have been the Best

How can it be?

Oh my God! This goes to show that not many people have read Chike And The River even in their secondary school days!