Things Fall Apart (1958)
0.3724Canon Score · ranked #16 all time
Aggregated from 9 of 14 authoritative lists, weighted by authority and adjusted for each list's scope and age. How scoring works →
About the book
Things Fall Apart is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans during the late 19th century. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, and one of the first to receive global critical acclaim. It is a staple book in schools throughout Africa and is widely read and studied i
Why it ranks #16
Every list on which Things Fall Apart appears, with its position as published.
| List | Authority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| BBC 100 Stories That Shaped the World | Major international poll | #5 / 100 |
| The Novel 100 (Burt) | Editorial list | #55 / 100 |
| PBS Great American Read (2018) | Editorial list | #91 / 100 |
| OCLC/WorldCat Top 500 Novels (2019) | Editorial list | #229 / 500 |
| Bokklubben World Library (2002) | Major international poll | Selected |
| Guardian 1000 Novels (2009) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| 1001 Books You Must Read (union) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| Bloom, The Western Canon (1994) | Editorial list | Selected |
| Telegraph 100 Novels (2009) | Editorial list | Selected |