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zurpel's review against another edition
3.0
Chinua Achebe delivers another intriguing insight into African culture. This last book in his African trilogy (chronologically it is the second book) details the conflict between the African tribes and the Europeans, who have just arrived to colonize the continent. Not only does this cause problems between the different nationalities, it also causes conflicts within the tribes, who are separated by the desire to uphold their traditions and to cope with the colonization. I enjoyed this opportunity to read this book.
As I “read” this as an audiobook, I have a few words on that as well: The last book in the series I quite enjoyed as audiobook. I felt it was easier to follow the story when somebody tells it who pronounces the names properly. This time around I had the impression that I should have read it instead. It was the same narrator, so that can’t be the reason. Perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood for the audiobook this time.
As I “read” this as an audiobook, I have a few words on that as well: The last book in the series I quite enjoyed as audiobook. I felt it was easier to follow the story when somebody tells it who pronounces the names properly. This time around I had the impression that I should have read it instead. It was the same narrator, so that can’t be the reason. Perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood for the audiobook this time.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.5
‘We British are a curious bunch, doing everything half-heartedly. Look at the French. They are not ashamed to teach their culture to backward races under their charge. Their attitude to the native ruler is clear. They say to him: ‘This land has belonged to you because you have been strong enough to hold it. By the same token it now belongs to us. If you are not satisfied come out and fight us.’ What do we British do? We flounder from one expedient to its opposite. We do not only promise to secure old savage tyrants on their thrones – or more likely filthy animal skins – we not only do that, but now we go out of our way to invent chiefs where there were none before.’
Chronologically, the final book in The African Trilogy fits between the first and second novels. And, while it might seem logical to read it there, I think the trilogy works better if you read the books in the order they were written. Why? Well, having given us an understanding of traditional Igbo life (in ‘Things Fall Apart’) and the story of Obi, caught between two worlds (in ‘No Longer at Ease’), Chinua Achebe takes us into the disintegration of traditional Igbo life as British colonial administration undermines Igbo customary practices.
The novel is set in the 1920s and begins with a bitter feud between the villages of Umuaro and Okperi. A piece of land is disputed, and the villagers are on the brink of war. Ezeulu, the Chief Priest of Ulu (the ruling deity of Umuaro) advises against warfare. His is a lone voice.
Peace is enforced when Captain T. K. Winterbottom, the British colonial official in charge, causes the destruction of all of the firearms within Umuaro. Bloodshed is avoided, but not all residents of Umuaro are happy. They believe that Ezeulu has betrayed his people after he testifies that Umuaro has no legitimate claim to the land.
Some years pass, relatively peacefully. Christianity has made its way to Umuaro, converting some villagers and convincing others that worship of their old gods is both sinful and futile. Several issues cause tensions to rise between different Igbo factions while at the same time T.K. Winterbottom prepares to carry out the British policy of indirect rule, which aims to appoint Africans as puppet leaders. He sends emissaries to invite Ezeulu, whom he remembers favourably, to Government Hill in order to name him ‘Paramount Chief’. Ezeulu refuses to comply and is eventually imprisoned for two months.
‘As soon as he comes,’ he [Winterbottom] told Clarke, ‘you are to lock him up in the guardroom. I do not wish to see him until after my return from Enugu. By that time he should have learnt good manners. I won’t have my natives thinking they can treat the administration with contempt.’
Ezeulu has a different view:
‘Tell the white man that Ezeulu will not be anybody’s chief, except Ulu.’
‘What! Shouted Clarke. ‘Is the fellow mad?’
‘I tink so sah,’ said the interpreter.
‘In that case he goes back to prison.’ Clarke was now really angry. What a cheek! A witch-doctor making a fool of the British Administration in public!’
After Ezeulu is released, he returns to Umuaro. His detention over two new moons disrupts the new yam harvest because Ezeulu will not call a new yam festival.
‘But with you,’ continued Ezeulu, ‘I need not speak in riddles. You all know what our custom is. I only call a new festival when there is only one yam left from the last. Today I have three yams and so I know that the time has not come.’
Ezeulu’s refusal to open the harvest causes unrest in the village. This unrest provides an opportunity for a Christian missionary to win more converts. He tells the villagers that anyone who wants to harvest their yams free of divine retribution can do so — by making an offering to the Christian God instead of Ulu.
There’s more to it than this of course. Ezeulu, who sees himself as an arrow in the bow of his God, believes himself to be untouchable. But his authority has been weakened: by officials of the colonial administration, by members of his own family and by rivals within his tribe.
Colonial rule, cultural differences and misunderstandings result in the disintegration of Igbo tradition.
A fitting conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. Highly recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Chronologically, the final book in The African Trilogy fits between the first and second novels. And, while it might seem logical to read it there, I think the trilogy works better if you read the books in the order they were written. Why? Well, having given us an understanding of traditional Igbo life (in ‘Things Fall Apart’) and the story of Obi, caught between two worlds (in ‘No Longer at Ease’), Chinua Achebe takes us into the disintegration of traditional Igbo life as British colonial administration undermines Igbo customary practices.
The novel is set in the 1920s and begins with a bitter feud between the villages of Umuaro and Okperi. A piece of land is disputed, and the villagers are on the brink of war. Ezeulu, the Chief Priest of Ulu (the ruling deity of Umuaro) advises against warfare. His is a lone voice.
Peace is enforced when Captain T. K. Winterbottom, the British colonial official in charge, causes the destruction of all of the firearms within Umuaro. Bloodshed is avoided, but not all residents of Umuaro are happy. They believe that Ezeulu has betrayed his people after he testifies that Umuaro has no legitimate claim to the land.
Some years pass, relatively peacefully. Christianity has made its way to Umuaro, converting some villagers and convincing others that worship of their old gods is both sinful and futile. Several issues cause tensions to rise between different Igbo factions while at the same time T.K. Winterbottom prepares to carry out the British policy of indirect rule, which aims to appoint Africans as puppet leaders. He sends emissaries to invite Ezeulu, whom he remembers favourably, to Government Hill in order to name him ‘Paramount Chief’. Ezeulu refuses to comply and is eventually imprisoned for two months.
‘As soon as he comes,’ he [Winterbottom] told Clarke, ‘you are to lock him up in the guardroom. I do not wish to see him until after my return from Enugu. By that time he should have learnt good manners. I won’t have my natives thinking they can treat the administration with contempt.’
Ezeulu has a different view:
‘Tell the white man that Ezeulu will not be anybody’s chief, except Ulu.’
‘What! Shouted Clarke. ‘Is the fellow mad?’
‘I tink so sah,’ said the interpreter.
‘In that case he goes back to prison.’ Clarke was now really angry. What a cheek! A witch-doctor making a fool of the British Administration in public!’
After Ezeulu is released, he returns to Umuaro. His detention over two new moons disrupts the new yam harvest because Ezeulu will not call a new yam festival.
‘But with you,’ continued Ezeulu, ‘I need not speak in riddles. You all know what our custom is. I only call a new festival when there is only one yam left from the last. Today I have three yams and so I know that the time has not come.’
Ezeulu’s refusal to open the harvest causes unrest in the village. This unrest provides an opportunity for a Christian missionary to win more converts. He tells the villagers that anyone who wants to harvest their yams free of divine retribution can do so — by making an offering to the Christian God instead of Ulu.
There’s more to it than this of course. Ezeulu, who sees himself as an arrow in the bow of his God, believes himself to be untouchable. But his authority has been weakened: by officials of the colonial administration, by members of his own family and by rivals within his tribe.
Colonial rule, cultural differences and misunderstandings result in the disintegration of Igbo tradition.
A fitting conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. Highly recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
drillvoice's review against another edition
5.0
I really love this series but I haven't been sure why. But I think I get it now - the books give such a great representation of how Colonialism might have played out and affected the traditional lives. But it does this without being heavy-handed or obvious. I really like this book because it isn't about a transition from 'before' to 'when it began' (as with the first in the series) or something immersed in the white system (as with the second). Instead it shows a clan existing outside of but in constant interaction with the white man - and you can see the interplay, the mutual bewilderment and misunderstanding, underpinned, of course, by the smug colonial superiority of the white person.
I also really love all the proverbs.
I also really love all the proverbs.
gabidmgomes's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
deegee24's review against another edition
5.0
Extraordinary. The best of the African trilogy by far. Not a long novel, but one that is dense with historical and psychological insight. Achebe's switching between different English dictions to signify the speech of Igbo and English speakers recalls Henry Roth's technique in Call It Sleep. The main character, Ezeulu, is one of the most memorable characters in 20th century fiction. The priest of an old god whose place is being overtaken by Christianity, he is a complex figure of tragic stature. His downfall is a metonym for the defeat of Igbo civilization at the hands of the British Empire.
daladala's review against another edition
2.0
Chinua Achebe on kyllä mestari viemään lukijan matkalle ajassa ja paikassa. Arrow of God ikävä kyllä ei tarjoa sarjan edeltäjien tavoin kohahduttavia juonenkäänteitä ja eksoottisuuspisteetkin ovat edelliset osan lukeneella jo rapisseet. Silti en voi kuin ihailla Achebea hänen tavastaan kertoa tarinoita.
willowbiblio's review
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"I told him that he should have spoken up against what we were planning, instead of which he put a piece of live coal into the child's palm and asked him to carry it with care."
----------------------------
I didn't realize that this was a trilogy until this year, so it was my first time reading this book.
Almost immediately the reader is shown the dissonance and malcontent that has crept into clan society as the early result of colonization through Ezeulu's family. The discord and division that deepens amongst this unit is happening in tandem with identical changes to the whole society. It's a sort of series of bad decisions leading Ezeulu's people further and further away from each other and toward the colonizers/whites and their religion. It is Ezeulu's pride and lack of understanding of the fundamental changes that have already taken root that leads his people to ultimately abandon tradition and seek permission to harvest from the Christian church. Throughout, the struggles amongst Ezeulu's people ultimately weakened/primed them for further cultural degradation.
It was truly amazing how Achebe shifted his literary tone - more simple and direct prose for Nigerian POV vs the more flowery and arch prose for the British POV. I think Achebe did a really interesting thing where he showed us the internal dialogue of characters, then immediately juxtaposed it with another character's perception of them being completely inaccurate and misdirected.
----------------------------
I didn't realize that this was a trilogy until this year, so it was my first time reading this book.
Almost immediately the reader is shown the dissonance and malcontent that has crept into clan society as the early result of colonization through Ezeulu's family. The discord and division that deepens amongst this unit is happening in tandem with identical changes to the whole society. It's a sort of series of bad decisions leading Ezeulu's people further and further away from each other and toward the colonizers/whites and their religion. It is Ezeulu's pride and lack of understanding of the fundamental changes that have already taken root that leads his people to ultimately abandon tradition and seek permission to harvest from the Christian church. Throughout, the struggles amongst Ezeulu's people ultimately weakened/primed them for further cultural degradation.
It was truly amazing how Achebe shifted his literary tone - more simple and direct prose for Nigerian POV vs the more flowery and arch prose for the British POV. I think Achebe did a really interesting thing where he showed us the internal dialogue of characters, then immediately juxtaposed it with another character's perception of them being completely inaccurate and misdirected.
anooosher's review against another edition
3.0
I had no idea it was a part of a trilogy and I read the last one in the series. I did understand it (I think) and quite enjoyed it
hrlukz's review against another edition
4.0
i need a shelf dedicated to books I’ve dropped in the bath (it would be an extensive shelf)