Called "the father of modern African writing", Chinua Achebe was one of the most widely read novelists from Nigeria who played a pivotal role in the development of African literature. Considered to be a major writer in not just the country of his birth but throughout the world, his debut novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ has sold over 12 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 50 languages. As an academically brilliant student at school he was often praised by his teachers for his reading skills. He easily got accepted into a prestigious college where he discovered his love for African culture and reading. He began writing during his university years and became a teacher after graduation. A voracious reader, he was disappointed with the European interpretation of African culture and disturbed by the non-African authors’ ignorance about Africa and its people. Determined to present a realistic picture of Africa to the world, he set about writing his novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ which was published after considerable editing and revising. The book was well received and went on to become one of the most significant books in African literature. He wrote several other critically acclaimed novels and eventually won the Man Booker International Prize.