Chinua Achebe: A Biography

by Ezenwa-Ohaeto

". . . 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.

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is heart breaking that the author (biographer) brilliant poet, academic, et al died prematurely; but at least he left behind some brilliant works, none more important than this masterpiece of a biography on Chinua Achebe.

Yes, Achebe, regarded by most as the greatest ever novelist to come from Africa. His novel, Things Fall Apart enthralled the world and sold in millions. Achebe, during his lifetime was celebrated and honoured globally. Many would love to read about his life and the author surpasses himself in this book, a real labour of love, intensely satisfying in every respect.

We read about Achebe since when he is a child, growing, developing, writing his profound works gradually over the years; the internecine Nigerian civil war is not neglected, and the role Achebe played at this torrid time, and much more.

We really get to know Achebe, through his childhood friends, his colleagues at the College and University, western acquaintances and scholars, a great deal of them who wrote about him and his work et al.


This book augments one's historical knowledge and perspectives too; detailing how Nigeria found itself in its perfervid status, the people, ethnic make- up and nuances, the advent of the military into the politics of the country, the civil war and a lot more.

Achebe the man is not left out; we learn about how he met his wife Christy, how the romance unfolded, including the (then) kids, the inconveniences and horrors during the civil war ...and the terrible accident Achebe had that confined him to a wheelchair.

But through it all Achebe wrote, and the world sat up and noticed. Within less than 10 years he had already published four world class novels, and he was still quite young at the time. All this and much more is recorded here, including comprehensive and superb references ....

[Madolyn Chukwu]

The author pays a lot of tribute to Christie, Achebe s wife to the very end. I love the part that even after many years of marriage they walk the parks in the university together ... like young lovers. Their charming early courtship, the lady always supporting him, understanding him...

[Raphael Mokoena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent

[Lupna Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

So disheartening to read here about the horrific accident Achebe had at his peak. Thanks to his international fame and respect, he was flown abroad for extensive treatment, but it was still terrible. His wife, overseas institutions etc helped him a lot, and one can be thankful under the circumstances that he lived into his 80s before giving up the ghost. What a life. What a man

[AMOS OSONDU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writers as prophets... certainly no one would begrudge the late great wordsmith Achebe his role as teacher and prophet during his lifetime. He identified the main problems and malaise of the society and incorporated the same into his brilliant extensive fictions; including illuminating insights into the future, prophecies, as it were.

But the most startling took place in 1966 (recorded in this book) when Achebe's then latest book (A Man of the People ) came out giving details of a military take-over and worse.... incredibly, almost at the same time the book came out, a military coup occurred in Nigeria for the first time!

(As fellow famous writer, J.P Clark told Achebe then: "You are a prophet!!")

Alas, Nigeria was soon embroiled in horror and killings then, and the powers that be - even academics who should have known better - felt that Achebe must somehow have been involved, known about the coup. It was nonsense of course - a book takes a year, or longer to come out - it was just an uncanny coincidence that Achebe's new book came out at around the time the first Nigerian coup took place.

But it also showed the intelligence, the profound thinking/speculation of the author... a literary prophet; a great writer who could analyse the shortcomings, trends, likelihood and trajectory of his society. Let us continue to celebrate the wonderful Chinua Achebe!!

[Henry Ozogula · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is heart breaking to see what effect the civil war had on Nigerian writers, most of them great novelists from eastern Nigeria, including Achebe of course. The plight of the illustrious Cyprian Ekwensi in particular made one wince. It is recorded thus in this book (Ulli Beier reminiscing):

"...we saw the first pictures of the devastated eastern region of Nigeria. Ekwensi was shown, trying to make a livelihood by selling old bottles on the market. This image brought home the tragedy... Here was a man who had made a reputation as a writer and a brilliant career in broadcasting who was suddenly reduced to the level of barest existence..."

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Exhaustive and exhausting....so detailed that I need a rest now. And too much hero-worship to make it an interesting and entertaining biography

[NCHS Library]

From Follett:
Biography of Nigerian author Chinua Achebe from his birth to his education and activism to his encouragement of other African writers through the literary journal "Okike," a publishing house in Nigeria, and his role as the Founding Editor of the African Writers Series.