African Trilogy books in order

Q: "How many books are in the African Trilogy series?"

"There are six books in the African Trilogy series, published between 1958 and 1991."

Q: "What is the first book in the African Trilogy series?"

"The first book in the African Trilogy series is Il crollo, published in 1958."

Q: "Do the African Trilogy books need to be read in order?"

"The three core novels can be read independently, though they work well in publication order. Things Fall Apart is set in precolonial and early colonial Nigeria. No Longer at Ease jumps forward to the 1950s and follows Okonkwo's grandson. Arrow of God returns to the colonial period with a different community. They share themes rather than a continuous plot."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Il crollo	1958	Chinua Achebe	N/A
2	Things Fall Apart	1958	Chinua Achebe	Buy
3	No Longer at Ease	1960	Chinua Achebe	Buy
4	African Silences	1991	Chinua Achebe	N/A
5	Arrow of God	1964	Chinua Achebe	Buy
6	Sand Rivers	1981	Chinua Achebe	N/A

The African Trilogy is Chinua Achebe’s most famous work, three novels that examine Nigerian society before, during, and after British colonial rule. Things Fall Apart (1958) introduced Okonkwo and his Igbo village of Umuofia at the moment European missionaries arrive and begin to change everything. No Longer at Ease (1960) moves forward in time to follow Okonkwo’s grandson Obi, a young civil servant in 1950s Lagos caught between traditional expectations and modern corruption. Arrow of God (1964) goes back to the colonial era to tell the story of Ezeulu, a chief priest whose authority is undermined by both his own people and the British administration.

Together, the three books give a broad picture of how colonialism reshaped Nigerian life across generations. Each novel stands alone as a complete story, but reading them together shows Achebe working through the same questions from different angles: what happens when outside power disrupts a functioning society, and how individuals respond when the old rules stop working. Note that some entries in the reading order above are translations or related editions of the core trilogy novels.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the African Trilogy series?

There are six books in the African Trilogy series, published between 1958 and 1991.

What is the first book in the African Trilogy series?

The first book in the African Trilogy series is Il crollo, published in 1958.

Do the African Trilogy books need to be read in order?

The three core novels can be read independently, though they work well in publication order. Things Fall Apart is set in precolonial and early colonial Nigeria. No Longer at Ease jumps forward to the 1950s and follows Okonkwo’s grandson. Arrow of God returns to the colonial period with a different community. They share themes rather than a continuous plot.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order