CHINUA ACHEBE. By Ezenwa-Ohaeto

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 ...