Chinua Achebe books in order
Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic
- Lived
- 1930–2013
- Country
- Colonial Nigeria
- Books
- 28
Chinua Achebe published 11 novels, 5 novellas, 1 short story collection, 6 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 3 poetry collections and 1 other book, beginning with Things Fall Apart (1958).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Chinua Achebe
Start here
Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe's most-read book, rated by 95 Open Library readers.
Shortest way in
A Man of the People
One of the most-read, at about 150 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Things Fall Apart (1958)
No Longer at Ease (1960)
The Sacrificial Egg (1962)
Arrow of God (1964)
A Man of the People (1966)
How the Leopard Got His Claws (1972)
Anthills of the Savannah (1987)
Hopes and Impediments (1988)
The Flute (1988)
African American Literature (1992)
Kindred Spirits (2022), with Toni Morrison
Novellas in order
Chike and the River (1966)
An Image of Africa (Feb 1975)
The Trouble with Nigeria (1983)
Home and Exile (Jan 2001)
Collected Poems (2004)
Short story collections in order
Girls at War and Other Stories (1972)
Non-fiction in order
Morning Yet on Creation Day (1975)
The World of the Ogbanje (1986)
Beyond Hunger in Africa (1990)
Conversations with Chinua Achebe (1997)
The Education of a British-Protected Child (2009)
There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra (2012)
Children's books in order
The Drum (1977)
Poetry in order
Beware Soul Brother (1971)
Christmas in Biafra, and Other Poems (1973)
Africa's Tarnished Name (2018)
Other books in order
Another Africa (1998)
About Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. His first novel and magnum opus, Things Fall Apart (1958), occupies a pivotal place in African literature and remains the most widely studied, translated, and read African novel. Along with Things Fall Apart, his No Longer at Ease (1960) and Arrow of God (1964) complete the "African Trilogy". Later novels include A Man of the People (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Achebe is often referred to as the "father of modern African literature", although he vigorously rejected the characterization.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Chinua Achebe FAQ
- How many books has Chinua Achebe written?
- Chinua Achebe published 11 novels, 5 novellas, 1 short story collection, 6 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 3 poetry collections and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Chinua Achebe's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Things Fall Apart.
- What is Chinua Achebe's last book?
- There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra (2012).
- What is Chinua Achebe's most famous book?
- Things Fall Apart (1958) is Chinua Achebe's most widely read book.
Authors like Chinua Achebe
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.