78 pages • 2 hours read
Chinua AchebeThings Fall Apart
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1958A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe follows Okonkwo, a determined and strong-willed man in the Ibo village of Umuofia, as he strives to overcome his father’s legacy of shame. His journey is shaped by personal triumphs and tragedies, local customs, and the disruptive impact of European colonialism, which eventually leads to profound changes in his community and his fate. Topics of physical violence and suicide appear in the book.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe has been widely praised for its profound depiction of African culture and the impact of colonialism. Critics commend its rich storytelling and complex characters, particularly Okonkwo. Some readers find the pacing slow and the language dense, but its literary significance is undeniable. Overall, it remains an essential read in world literature. MLA: Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart.
Who Should Read Things Fall Apart?
A reader who would enjoy Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is interested in African culture, history, and colonial impacts. Fans of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad or One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez will appreciate its rich narrative and exploration of complex societal changes.
RecommendedReading Age
15+yearsLexile Level
890LBook Details
Relationships: Daughters & Sons
Society: Colonialism
Colonialism / Postcolonialism
Heinemann African Writers
African Literature
Education
Historical Fiction
History: African
Education
History: World