Name: Dhruvi ChavdaPaper: The New LiteratureSubject: “Things Fall Apart as a Historical Fiction”Semester : 4Submitted to : Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar university

“Things Fall Apart”

Author : Chinua AchebeCover artist : C. W. BartonLanguage : EnglishGenre : Historical fictionPublisher : William Heinemann Ltd.Publication date : 1958

Historical

It is based on or concerned with events in history.

Fiction

literary work whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. The category of literature comprising works of this kind, including novels, short stories, and plays.

What is Historical Fiction?

Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting located in the past.

It is an ambiguous term.

“Things Fall Apart as a historical novel” When the novel was published it was a time often called the Nigerian Renaissance because in that period a large number of very strong Nigerian writers began to create a powerful new literature that drew on the traditional oral literature, European literature and the changing times in Nigeria and in Africa at large writers as varied as Ben Okri and whole Soyinka developed in the context of the ideas and energy of the Nigerian Renaissance, but Achebe is considered one of the earliest and best novelist to come one of the top English – speaking novelists of his time anywhere.

“Things fall Apart” particular focuses on the early experience of colonialism as it occurred in Nigeria in the late 1800's, from the first days of contact with the British to widespread British administration.

Achebe is interested in British administration. They also interested in showing Igbo society in the period of transition when rooted, traditional values are put in conflict with an alien and more powerful culture that will tear them apart.

Before British colonial rule, the Igbo were a politically fragmented group.

IGBO SOCIETY

Achebe paints a vivid picture of Igbo society both before and after the arrival of white men, and avoids the temptation to idealize culture. In this context, he believe that the novelist must 'have a social commitment”. "The writer cannot be excused from the task of reduction and regeneration that must be done.

Thank you…