230 pages
English language
Published 1989 by Anchor Books Doubleday.
Set in the Igbo heartland of eastern Nigeria, one of Africa's best-known writers describes the conflict between old and new in its most poignant aspect: the personal struggle between father and son.
Ezeulu, the headstrong chief priest of the god Ulu, is worshipped by the six villages of Umuaro. But his authority is increasingly under threat—from rivals within his tribe, from functionaries of the colonial government, and even from his own family members. Yet he believes himself to 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 is towards their own destruction. But his people will not be dominated so easily.
Spare and powerful, Arrow of God is an unforgettable portrayal of the loss of faith, and the downfall of a man in a society forever altered by colonialism.
I am continuously, helplessly impressed by Chinua Achebe's writing. In addition to being beautifully crafted, and absorbing, it is a refined commentary on colonialism - nuanced in a way that social sciences rarely achieve. Arrow of God narrates the story of Ezeulu, the master priest of a cluster of Igbo villages. Stubborn, wise, and commanding, he sees his authority threated by British and his fellow villagers.
