Looks at the essays, stories and groundbreaking novels written by Chinua Achebe between 1951 and 1966. Lindfors, a renowned scholar of African literature, demonstrates the pervasive influence of Achebe's early writing - not only on other African authors, but also on teachers and critics of African literature worldwide. The book concludes with a previously unpublished lecture delivered by Achebe at the University of Texas in 1969.