Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
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Re: Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
#2Years before I read the novel, I actually saw his "Things Fall Apart" performed as a play when I was a kid living in Lagos in the early 90s. The novel itself may not be the best fiction ever written by an African author, but it's the most widely known novel to come out of Africa and does a great job of highlighting the harsh transition to colonialism.
Re: Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
#3checking dates, as relevant now as it was in 2013
Re: Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
#4[2013]
This article has been popping up on Facebook today as well. On the plus side, not very many people get the world to pay attention to their passing twice. The social media age is weird.
Re: Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
#5The ending of Things Fall Apart was one of the most emotionally impactful endings in such a brief manner that I've ever read:
"Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friend’s dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog…” He could not say any more. His voice trembled and choked his words."
Even now as I search for the quote I'm amazed after two years I can still remember the exact wording -- 'he will be buried like a dog'. Rest in peace, this wonderful author.
Re: Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
#6The ending of Things Fall Apart was one of the most emotionally impactful endings in such a brief manner that I've ever read: "Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friend’s dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog…” He could not say any more. His voice…
Is he implying that the way dog is being buried is typically disrespectful?
Re: Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
#7The ending of Things Fall Apart was one of the most emotionally impactful endings in such a brief manner that I've ever read: "Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friend’s dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog…” He could not say any more. His voice…
Is he implying that the way dog is being buried is typically disrespectful?
Yes, If I may: in countries like Africa, dogs are usually on their own (even if they are nominally someone's pet) and quite often get run over on the road. They are left there to rot before someone buries them or throws them over to rot elsewhere without affecting traffic or roadside business. It is undignified for dogs, especially so for humans.
Re: Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
#8The ending of Things Fall Apart was one of the most emotionally impactful endings in such a brief manner that I've ever read: "Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friend’s dangling body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: “That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog…” He could not say any more. His voice…
Is he implying that the way dog is being buried is typically disrespectful?
[deleted]
Re: Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is he implying that the way dog is being buried is typically disrespectful?
Yes, If I may: in countries like Africa, dogs are usually on their own (even if they are nominally someone's pet) and quite often get run over on the road. They are left there to rot before someone buries them or throws them over to rot elsewhere without affecting traffic or roadside business. It is undignified for dogs, especially so for humans.
Countries like Africa?
Re: Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82 (2013)
#10Years before I read the novel, I actually saw his "Things Fall Apart" performed as a play when I was a kid living in Lagos in the early 90s. The novel itself may not be the best fiction ever written by an African author, but it's the most widely known novel to come out of Africa and does a great job of highlighting the harsh transition to colonialism.
"most widely known novel to come out of Africa" [Citation needed]