Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

This novel comes in at #70 on Radcliffe’s Rival list.  This was first published in 1958 and is according to the introduction a staple in the secondary-school English classes in Africa.  Again, according to the introduction “if an educated person could name only one African novel, this would probably be it.” That seems a good reason to at least familiarize yourself with this book if you have not previously done so. 

As you may have deduced it is set in Africa, in Nigeria specifically, and one of the interesting things about it is the fact that it was written in English which is not the author’s first language.  It is the story of Okonkwo who considers himself a fierce warrior and has no patience for anything “womanly” as a strong reaction to be as different from his father as he possible.  This book is full of interesting anecdotes and details of how a tribal society lived and the tale of how their way of life came to an end with the appearance of the white missionaries. 

I’m certainly not going to say that every custom practiced in Okonkwo’s village is good or right.  Taking your baby twins out to die in the forest is absolutely reprehensible, but I’m still not sure that gives one set of people (in this case the white Christians) the right to tell another set of people how to live their lives, especially when they jail, torture and kill the ones who refuse to cooperate and in an underhanded manner too.  At any rate, most of the book is about what happens prior to the missionaries appearance.  A lot of the book is illuminating and interesting for anyone who knows nothing of this place or time.  Also it is short so it is pretty quick reading.  I found much of the treatment of women offensive so hopefully things have improved in that department in some African countries.  It would be nice if the treatment of women improved in all countries for that matter.

The title comes from a poem by William Butler Yeats, The Second Coming.   Spoiler alert:  I was disappointed in the ending.  I was hoping Okonkwo would at least go out fighting but for reasons I can’t discern decides to hang himself instead.  He is not a particularly likeable character but his suicide seems beneath his dignity. 

Next week:  Ernie tackles A Bend in the River