"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe

NOTE FOR NEW MEMBERS: We tend to sit at the tables near the TV (but we may also be outside if it is summer). If you can't see us, please wait at the bar, and we will come and show you where we are sitting. Please don't ask the bar staff where we are sitting, as they don't know who we are.

Hitchin Book Club invites you to join us for some light-hearted discussions. This event is a great introduction to the book club (especially if you have never been to a book club before). We always welcome new members regardless of their level of reading experience.

Book Name: Things Fall Apart
Book Author: Chinua Achebe
Genre: Historical fiction, novel
Published: 1958
Page Count: approx. 200 (varies by edition) Read Time Estimate: approx. 4-5h
Date: 25/11/2026
Start Time: 19:30
End Time: approx. 21:30-22:00
Location: The Albert Inn, 50 Walsworth Rd, Hitchin SG4 9SU, sitting at one of the tables inside or outside. I will post in the comments any updates to the location.

Structure:
Brief introduction and what you thought about the book
Discussions based on a set of pre-prepared questions as prompts
10 to 15 minute break halfway through, option to join the WhatsApp group
Opportunity to ask any questions to the group
Closing thoughts and provide a rating for the book out of 10
Confirm details for next month's book
Book club formally ends, feel free to leave or stick around for general conversations

About the book

Things Fall Apart follows Okonkwo, a proud and respected leader in the Igbo village of Umuofia in late 19th-century Nigeria. Driven by a fear of weakness, he works relentlessly to build his status, but his rigid pride and his world are both tested when European missionaries and colonial authorities arrive. Widely regarded as a landmark of African literature, it has sold millions of copies and been translated into dozens of languages. It is short, but it gives us plenty to talk about: tradition and change, masculinity, justice, and the cost of colonialism.

Content note: This book deals with some heavy themes, including suicide and violence. If these are difficult for you, please take care when deciding whether to read it, and feel free to sit out any part of the discussion.