Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart, dies at 82

The Nigerian author was a towering figure in African literature

Chinua Achebe
(Image credit: AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Chinua Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart, a classic of post-colonial African literature, has died at the age of 82.

Often referred to as the grandfather of African letters, the Nigerian was the author of more than 20 books, opening the world's eyes to an entire continent and the impact colonialism had on its people. Nelson Mandela once said Achebe had "brought Africa to the rest of the world."

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Ryu Spaeth

Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.