Arrow of God
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By Chinua Achebe
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Ezeulu, headstrong chief priest of the god Ulu, is worshipped by the six villages of Umuaro. But he is beginning to find his authority increasingly under threat – from his rivals in the tribe, from those in the white government and even from his own family. Yet he still feels he must be untouchable – surely he is an arrow in the bow of his God? Armed with this belief, he is prepared to lead his people, even if it means destruction and annihilation. Yet the people will not be so easily dominated.
Spare and powerful, Arrow of God is an unforgettable portrayal of the loss of faith, and the struggle between tradition and change. Continuing the epic saga of the community in Things Fall Apart, it is the second volume of Achebe’s African trilogy, and is followed by No Longer at Ease.
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Reviews
Once again, a wonderfully written story with great imagery and poetic language that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Bridging the gap between Things Fall Apart and No Longer At Ease, I really enjoyed reading this. We start seeing more of the early interaction between the native tribes and the British invaders. We learn more about native customs and see the clash between the indigenous religion and Christianity, a conflict often overlooked by many.
I really liked the way things were described, and how lessons are often taught through parables and sayings ("the boy who persists in asking what happened to his father before he has enough strength to avenge him is asking for his father's fate..." and I love that it's written with a realistic perspective. People suffered; and they took their traditions and religions very seriously.
I love that I can relate. I love the perspective from which it's written and I'd definitely recommend the entire trilogy (or any of Chinua Achebe's writing) to people.
