A first print, first edition copy of late Chinua Achebe’s premier novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ has been sold for one million Naira.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the private sale took place on Twitter following a call by author, Lola Shoneyin for collectors to purchase the vintage copy.
Shoneyin, who is well-known for her book ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’, tweeted that the copy was available on Sunday.
She said, “Hey book collectors! My friend is selling a first print, first edition copy of ‘Things Fall Apart’ for N1m. Reply here and she will contact you.”
Fans of Achebe’s work took to the comment section to praise the work, with some placing bids. However, she announced hours later that the book had been bought by an anonymous buyer.
She tweeted, “The book has been bought by an anonymous buyer.”
Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. ‘Things Fall Apart’, his first novel, is often considered his best. He won the Man Booker International Prize in 2007.
‘Things Fall Apart’ was published in 1958; its story chronicles pre-colonial life in the south-eastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of the Europeans during the late nineteenth century.