Achebe on Conrad

[Otto Sell]

Not to forget time and place Conrad wrote. Plus the fact that he brought
something to attention many Europeans weren't conscious about. I think that
Achebe is too harsh in his criticism on Conrad's book especially, but his
argument on the "real question (of) the dehumanization of Africa and
Africans which this age-long attitude has fostered and continues to foster
in the world" is not totally wrong, or, as the saying goes: ist nicht ganz
von der Hand zu weisen.

Both books ("Heart of Darkness" and  "Things Fall Apart") are favorites of
mine and in this objection I think it's a little bit unfair of Achebe 'cause
Conrad never had the chance to read (and praise) Achebe's great novel.

Otto

PS Have you ever heard of  "Max Havelaar" by Multatuli (Edouard Douwes
Dekker, 1820-1887), a Dutch novel and valuable social document about
colonialism that preceded Conrad.