Arthur Rimbaud vs Chinua Achebe
Two child prodigies, compared on what is actually documented: field, era, country and record. No invented numbers.
The record, side by side
| Arthur Rimbaud | Chinua Achebe | |
| Field | Literature | Literature |
| Sub-field | Poet | Novelist |
| Born | 1854 | 1930 |
| Died | 1891 | 2013 |
| Country of birth | France | Colonial Nigeria |
| Star sign | Libra | Scorpio |
Who they are
Arthur Rimbaud
First major poem at age 15 · Quit writing forever at 20 Author of A Season in Hell & Illuminations · Entire output completed before age 21 Born October 20, 1854 · Charleville, France · Died November 10, 1891
Full biography of Arthur Rimbaud →
Chinua Achebe
Father of African Literature · Author of Things Fall Apart 20 million copies sold · 57 languages translated · Most widely read African novel in history Born November 16, 1930 · Ogidi, Nigeria · Died March 21, 2013
Full biography of Chinua Achebe →
What they share
- Both are held here under Literature.
Where they part
- Born in different countries: France and Colonial Nigeria.
- 76 years separate their births (1854 and 1930).
- Their lifetimes never overlapped.
Questions people ask
- Who came first, Arthur Rimbaud or Chinua Achebe?
- Arthur Rimbaud. Arthur Rimbaud was born in 1854, Chinua Achebe in 1930.
- What field is each of them in?
- Arthur Rimbaud is filed under Literature (Poet). Chinua Achebe is filed under Literature (Novelist).
- Were they contemporaries?
- No - their lifetimes do not overlap.