Synopses & Reviews
"... some 10 years of painstaking enquiry are presented with sustained energy... Ezenwa-Ohaeto has completed a remarkable feat..." --West Africa
"... a gold mine of a source for future researchers." --The Literary Griot
"... in this meticulously researched work, [Ezenwa-Ohaeto] provides a wealth of information that should prove invaluable to all future studies of Achebe." --Library Journal
"Great back-up for classes reading Achebe's Things Fall Apart." --Booklist
"This pioneering biography draws upon a wealth of printed and oral sources to produce a vivid record of the life and times of Africa's most influential novelist. Ezenwa-Ohaeto is Achebe's Boswell; nothing of importance, large or small, seems to escape him." --Bernth Lindfors, University of Texas
This is the first biography of the internationally acclaimed author of Things Fall Apart, the most widely read African novel, first published in 1958 and now a classic, with more than 12 million copies in print. Things Fall Apart is a defining moment in African and world literature.
Ezenwa-Ohaeto's biography is the first comprehensive account of Achebe's life to date. Based on extensive research and numerous interviews, this is also the first work to trace the story of Achebe's life while putting his achievement into a social and historical context.
Review
"What a treat! This biography of one of the world's most distinguished and honored writers is a welcome arrival. Achebe has done more than any other single person to draw international attention to the literature of the sub-Sahara, and he is well served by this study. The book details Achebe's life from his birth in 1930 to 1993, showing his growth as a novelist, poet, and critic. The author includes a good treatment of the firestorm that occurred after Achebe called Heart of Darkness a racist work; his work as a Biafran patriot during the aborted war of secession; and his encouragement of other African writers, primarily but not exclusively those from Nigeria, to show their work to the world. Indeed, to read this book is to be present at the beginning of the careers of such acclaimed writers as Ngugi (Ngugi) wa Thiongo, Wole Soyinka, and Christopher Okigbo. This rewarding study veers now and then toward hagiography (Ezenwa-Ohaeto is a former student), but that is not a serious flaw. Those wishing for a closer reading of the novels (which was clearly not the author's intent) should read Simon Gukandi's Reading Chinua Achebe (CH, May'92) or Chinua Achebe: A Celebration, edited by Kirsten Petersen and Anna Rutherford (1991). Every library should add Ezenwa-Ohaeto's book to its collection." --P. W. Stine, Gordon College, Choice, May 1998 Indiana University Press Indiana University Press
Synopsis
. . . some 10 years of painstaking enquiry are presented with sustained energy . . . Ezenwa-Ohaeto has completed a remarkable feat . . . --West Africa
. . . a gold mine of a source for future researchers. --The Literary Griot
. . . in this meticulously researched work, Ezenwa-Ohaeto] provides a wealth of information that should prove invaluable to all future studies of Achebe. --Library Journal
Great back-up for classes reading Achebe's Things Fall Apart. --Booklist
This pioneering biography draws upon a wealth of printed and oral sources to produce a vivid record of the life and times of Africa's most influential novelist. Ezenwa-Ohaeto is Achebe's Boswell; nothing of importance, large or small, seems to escape him. --Bernth Lindfors, University of Texas
This is the first biography of the internationally acclaimed author of Things Fall Apart, the most widely read African novel, first published in 1958 and now a classic, with more than 12 million copies in print. Things Fall Apart is a defining moment in African and world literature.
Ezenwa-Ohaeto's biography is the first comprehensive account of Achebe's life to date. Based on extensive research and numerous interviews, this is also the first work to trace the story of Achebe's life while putting his achievement into a social and historical context.
Synopsis
This is the first biography of Chinua Achebe. His novels span the African experience of colonialism, independence and of civilian and military corruption. His short stories in particular reflect his involvement in the Biafran civil war in Nigeria. His poetry, both in English and Igbo, reveals a sensitive talent. His children's stories introduced the young and their parents to the excitement of books. 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 war-torn Nigeria and by introducing, in his role as the Founding Editor of the African Writers Series, new writers to a worldwide audience. Through his teaching in universities in Africa and America he showed the importance of Africa's own literature in the re-establishment of its cultural independence.
Synopsis
Ezenwa-Ohaeto, a former student of Chinua Achebe's and a prize-winning short story writer in his own right, spent 15 years researching and writing this comprehensive summary of the writer's life, with the cooperation of his subject.
Synopsis
Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe's THINGS FALL APART is the most widely read African novel. Since its publication in 1958, it has become a classic, often compared to Greek and Shakespearean tragedies. Ezenwo-Ohaeto's biography is the first comprehensive account of this major writer's life to date--and places Achebe's life and work in the context of African history. 25 photos.
Description
Includes bibliographical references ( p. 287-312 ) and index.
About the Author
Ezenwa-Ohaeto, poet and writer, was one of Chinua Achebe's students at the University of Nigeria, before he took a doctorate at the University of Benin. He has taught at Ahmadu Bello University, Anambra State College, and Alvan Ikoku Institute as well as the Universities of Mainz and Bayreuth.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. The Catechist's Son: Missionaries and Masquerades, 1930-5
Chapter 2. Starting at the Crossroads: Primary School, 1936-43
Chapter 3. The Ogidi Boy: Government College, 1944-7
Chapter 4. The Young Man in Our Hall: At the University, 1948-53
Chapter 5. Stepping into the World: Teaching and Talks, 1954-7
Chapter 6. On the Path of Life: The Young Controller, 1958-60
Chapter 7. Striding to the Frontier: The Voice of Nigeria, the Married Man, the General Editor, 1960-2
Chapter 8. Walking Under a Gathering Storm: From Arrow of God to a Man of the People, 1963-6
Chapter 9. Retreat to the Citadel: Genocide, War and The Leopard's Claws, 1966-7
Chapter 10. The Idea of Biafra: Enugu, Aba, Umuabia, 1967-9
Chapter 11. To Understand What Happened: Art in the Midst of War and Aftermath, 1969-71
Chapter 12. Constructing a Relevant Vision: Collections, Controversies, and Conferences, 1971-2
Chapter 13. An American Expedition: New Light on the Hear of Darkness, 1973-5
Chapter 14. Going Back to the Roots: Return to Nsukka, 1973-5
Chapter 15. Setting Up More Structures: Education, Culture, Politics, 1975-83
Chapter 16. The Trouble with Nigeria: An Ambassador for Literature and Justice, 1983-7
Chapter 17. What Literature Has to Do With It: Leaders, Prizes and Anthills of the Savannah, 1987-9
Chapter 18. The Legacy of an Eagle on ira\oko: Masquerades, Celebrations and Survival, 1989-93