A review by ashleighjadereads
No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe

4.0

In this second part of the African trilogy we follow the story of Okonkwo’s grandson Obi, who at the beginning of the novel sets off to acquire a prestigious education in England. He represents the hope and pride of his humble village, but when he returns to colonial Nigeria to take up a civil service job he finds that his education has not made his life easier. If anything, it’s done the opposite, and with it comes the pressure of being a man who is expected to have money, a certain degree of power and to conduct himself with ease amongst the ruling elite. For all his good intentions he is tempted by corruption at work, and faces great challenges at home with his girlfriend Clara (who has a dark secret of her own), his beloved, ailing mother and his strained relationship with his father.
Achebe explores the effects of colonialism in the lives of all strata of society: from the peasantry and working class to the tribe leaders and high-powered officials. He indictes the settlers for the nonchalant way in which they dismiss the native culture and underestimate the capability of the Nigerian people to decide what is right for themselves.
Though I enjoyed Things Fall Apart more, this is an important book and a brilliant follow-up to the first novel.