It was a book that turned out to be a world beater and enshrined his name in letters of gold. Achebe has already written extensively about biafra in poems, short stories and essays. Christmas in biafra, and other poems achebe, chinua on. He is best known for his first novel, things fall apart 1958, which is the most widely read book in modern african literature. Chimamanda adichie, for all purposes achebes heir as nigerian novelist of broad repute, also wrote a book about biafra, half of a yellow sun.
For more than forty years, chinua achebe maintained a considered silence on the events of the nigerian civil war, also known as the biafran war, of 19671970. Sep 27, 2012 sept 27, 2012 chinua achebe releases memoir on biafra nigerian poet chinua achebe, often called the father of modern african literature, released his first major work in years thursday with a longawaited memoir centred on the war that nearly destroyed his nation. But that is not where the story ends, because the book is also. Achebe was a winner of the man booker prize in 2007 and the gish prize in 2010 and has been an influential chronicler, in both fiction and nonfiction, of postcolonial africa. Nov 08, 2012 there was a country, chinua achebes longawaited memoir of biafra nigerian poet chinua achebe was once biafras cultural ambassador. There was a country, chinua achebes longawaited memoir. A massive row has erupted between the igbo and yoruba ethnic groups in nigeria over foremost writer, chinua achebes portrayal of former premier of the defunct western region, obafemi awolowo. A personal history of biafra chronicles achebes experiences during nigerias 1967.
But when all that has been said, as a book about biafra, how it. There was a country draws on much of this material. This book is part memoir, part history of the biafran war and part a survey of nigerian literature. A personal history of biafra by achebe, chinua isbn. Marrying history and memoir, poetry and prose, there was a country is a distillation of vivid firsthand observation and forty years of research and reflection. Achebe s reminiscences of biafra, a country whichthat spent the entirety of its brief existence, from 1967 to 1970, in civil war with nigeria, result in an uneasy mix of history and memoir. From the legendary author of things fall apart comes a longawaited memoir about coming of age with a fragile new nation, then watching it torn asunder in a tragic civil war. He was best known for his first novel and magnum opus, things fall apart 1958, which is the most widely read book in modern african literature. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. However recent documents from a biafra public relations. His first novel things fall apart 1958, often considered his masterpiece, is the most widely read book in modern african literature. Achebes farewell to nigeria and biafra vanguard news. Isaiah okafor achebe was a catechist for the church missionary society, and he and his wife traveled eastern nigeria as evangelists before settling in ogidi, isaiahs ancestral igbo village, five years after. The defining experience of chinua achebe s life was the nigerian civil war, also known as the biafran war, which was infamous for its savage impact on his people.
Chinua achebe received numerous honours from around the world, including the honorary fellowship of the american academy of arts and letters, as well as honorary doctorates from more than 30 colleges and universities. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read there was a country. It was made up of the states in the eastern region of nigeria biafras declaration of independence from nigeria resulted in civil war between biafra and nigeria. Chinua achebes history of biafra is a meditation on the complex and hidden nature of a truth and darkness that is deeply embedded in nigerias.
Pelu awofeso after the dust raised in nigeria by its publication had settled, i finally read there was a country, chinua achebes last published book, which centres on the nigeriabiafra civil war and achebes personal experiences of and participation in it. A personal history of biafra ebook written by chinua achebe. A personal history of biafra emerges into this landscape of memory and remembrance, 42 years after the war. Oct 11, 2012 information about the book, there was a country. Sept 27, 2012 chinua achebe releases memoir on biafra nigerian poet chinua achebe, often called the father of modern african literature, released his first major work in years thursday with a longawaited memoir centred on the war that nearly destroyed his nation. Achebe sets the score of his lifes story in the rise and fall of another countrythe republic of biafraand one of the most brutal civil wars of the twentieth century.
The inclusion of some of achebes poems didnt work for me but that is highly subjective. The odd thing about these poems written by the nigerian novelist of note is that there is so little of africa in them. The book has sparked intense debate in nigeria, and, thanks to achebes renown, will undoubtedly influence discussions for years to come, and possibly action, on. A personal history of biafra nonfiction, hardcover, by chinua achebe penguin press, oct 11, 2012 african american literature book club celebrating our literary legacy since 1997 black literature is. And when i was looking for the book on my kindle, i realized i have another book about it achebe s. May 27, 20 for achebe, there was a country must have been a painful book to write, but i also assume it was achebes way of finally getting closure on one part of his remarkable life. He is the son of a teacher and the most widely read african novelist in history. Yet, apart from an interview with transition magazine in 1968 and a book of biafran poems, nigerias most eminent novelist has kept a literary. Biafra s declaration of independence from nigeria resulted in civil war between biafra and nigeria. There was a country is structured as a fourpart movement of stories. And when i was looking for the book on my kindle, i realized i have another book about it achebes.
There was a country, chinua achebes longawaited memoir of biafra nigerian poet chinua achebe was once biafras cultural ambassador. Fleeing lagos for the east, achebe joined the forces of the biafran leader, emeka ojukwu, who declared the independence of the republic of biafra on may 30 1967. Nigerian books books by chinua achebe 2012 nonfiction books. Biafra, officially the republic of biafra, was a state in west africa that existed from may 1967 to january 1970. There was a country by chinua achebe the boston globe. Achebe does chronicle and preserve for us a powerful memoir of a lost and ambiguous time. There was a country could easily refer to biafra, or given the state of nigeria as described by achebe, could be to nigeria itself. Christmas in biafra and other poems by chinua achebe. For the first 30 years of his life nigeria was a british colony and it was controlled and exploited by the british for agricultural goods such as cocoa.
Achebe accuses the united nations of following nigerias lead, and standing idly by as biafra was crushed. The tragedy of the 1970s war continues to this day. He published novels, short stories, essays, and childrens books. Mar 01, 20 the book has sparked intense debate in nigeria, and, thanks to achebes renown, will undoubtedly influence discussions for years to come, and possibly action, on what contemporary nigerian and. You see we, the little people of the world, are ever expendable. He was also the recipient of nigerias highest award for intellectual achievement, the nigerian national merit award. The author has apparently assimilated an alien literary tradition as much as is possible. Igbo, yoruba at war over chinua achebes criticism of awolowo.
Nigeria is haunted by biafran war nigeria the guardian. A personal history of biafra emerges into this landscape of. Renowned nigerian author chinua achebe publishes his longawaited memoir, there was a country, about the brutal threeyear biafran war. I say that, in part, because the first time i met the writer was after the biafran war. Genocidal biafran war still haunts nigeria by max siollun on october 3, 2012 article by chinua achebe in todays uk guardian claiming that nigeria is still haunted by the ghost of the biafranigeria civil war. Chinua achebe was born in eastern nigeria on november 16, 1930, to isaiah and janet achebe, who christened their son albert chinualamogu. Documents contradict achebe book there was a country on.
Christmas in biafra and other poems by chinua achebe kirkus. Chinua achebe was a novelist, poet, professor at brown university and critic. Oct 14, 2012 the biafran war was fought over forty years ago between 196770 but the reverberations continue to linger. Achebe, 16 november 1930 21 march 20 was a nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. Achebes most recent book, his longawaited memoir of the nigerianbiafra war, is both sad and angry, a book by a writer looking back and mourning. Biafra was formally recognised by gabon, haiti, ivory coast, tanzania and zambia. It was made up of the states in the eastern region of nigeria. There was a country, by chinua achebe the new york times. Chinua achebes parting criticisms on nigeria, there was a country will eventually go down. Chinua achebe 1930 20 was a nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. After an insightful, masterful account of his education, his attention wavers between the individual and the international without settling on a steady tone.
Christmas in biafra, and other poems paperback january 1, 1973 by chinua achebe author visit amazons chinua achebe page. A personal history of biafra nonfiction, hardcover, by chinua achebe penguin press, oct 11, 2012 african american literature book club celebrating our literary legacy since 1997 black literature is for everyone african american literature book club. I read this book almost by chance after reading forsyths autobiography earlier this year, i decided that i want to read his other nonfiction book the story of biafra. Apr 25, 2014 chinua achebe 1930 20 was a nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. Achebe was the son of a prominent family in the town of ogidi in eastern nigeria, the region that later became biafra and was home to the igbo people. For more than forty years achebe was silent on those terrible years, until he produced this towering reckoning with one of modern africas most fateful events. Was biafra ever really a country, as achebe would have it. Wise, humane, and authoritative, it will stand as definitive and reinforce achebe s place as one of the most vital literary and moral voices of our age. This book which marked frederick forsyths transition from journalist to author is a record of one of the most brutal conflicts the third world has ever suffered. The biafran war was fought over forty years ago between 196770 but the reverberations continue to linger. Foreign policy must read 2012 by books from global thinkers chinua achebes history of biafra is a meditation on the condition of freedom. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. There was a country, chinua achebes longawaited memoir of.
His volume of poetry, christmas in biafra, was the. A personal history of biafra by chinua achebe from the legendary author of things fall apart comes a longawaited memoir about coming of age with a fragile new nation, then watching it torn asunder in a tragic civil war the defining experience of chinua achebes life was the nigerian civil war, also known as the biafran war, of 19671970. Oct 22, 2012 chimamanda adichie, for all purposes achebes heir as nigerian novelist of broad repute, also wrote a book about biafra, half of a yellow sun. He was raised in the large village of ogidi, one of the first centres of anglican missionary work in eastern nigeria, and is a graduate of university college, ibadan. Newsrescue in a recent book stoking up huge controversy, there was a country, written by nigerian writer, chinua achebe. One of africas best known authors, mr achebes debut 1958 novel things fall apart has sold more than 10 million copies.
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