The Paris Review has made available its classic 1994 interview with Chinua Achebe on the art of fiction, which was conducted by Jerome Brooks. Achebe’s two latest books are Girls at War and The Education of a British-Protected Child.
I don’t lay down the law for anybody else. But I think writers are not only writers, they are also citizens. They are generally adults. My position is that serious and good art has always existed to help, to serve, humanity. Not to indict. I don’t see how art can be called art if its purpose is to frustrate humanity. To make humanity uncomfortable, yes. But intrinsically to be against humanity, that I don’t take. This is why I find racism impossible, because this is against humanity. Some people think, Well, what he’s saying is we must praise his people. For God’s sake! Go and read my books. I don’t praise my people. I am their greatest critic.
Book details
Image courtesy Angela Radulescu
Please register or log in to comment
