Achebe's An Image of Africa offers a profound critique of Conrad's depiction of Africa in Heart of Darkness. Celebrated for its incisive analysis and powerful prose, it challenges Western literary paradigms. Some critics find it too harsh, yet many praise Achebe's courage in addressing racism and misrepresentation, prompting deeper reflection on colonial narratives.

Readers interested in post-colonial critique, literary analysis, and African studies would appreciate Chinua Achebe's An Image of Africa. They likely enjoy texts like Edward Said's Orientalism and Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, seeking insights into cultural representation and the effects of colonialism.

In An Image of Africa, Chinua Achebe critiques Joseph Conrad's portrayal of African people in Heart of Darkness. Achebe addresses the dehumanizing representation and argues it reinforces harmful stereotypes, challenging readers to reconsider the narrative's impact and recognize the importance of portraying African individuals as complex human beings.

Informative / Contemplative / Challenging / Mysterious / Dark

- An Image of Africa is a critical essay by Chinua Achebe that was first delivered as a lecture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in February 1975.
- The essay is a groundbreaking critique of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, highlighting its Eurocentric and racist elements and sparking widespread discussions and debates in literary circles.
- Achebe's essay has become influential in postcolonial studies, challenging Western perceptions of Africa and inspiring subsequent generations of scholars to reexamine classic literary works.

**Chinua Achebe**  
A renowned Nigerian author known for critiquing stereotypical portrayals of Africans in Western literature and advocating for authentic African perspectives.

**Joseph Conrad**  
A Polish British writer whose work, particularly Heart of Darkness, is scrutinized by Chinua Achebe for perpetuating dehumanizing stereotypes of Africa and its people.

Chinua Achebe

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An Image of Africa

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