Nigerian novelist and poet Chinua Achebe has died.<br/> <br />Widely seen as the grandfather of modern African literature, Achebe made his name more than 50 years ago with his novel "Things Fall Apart".<br/> <br />As a writer, broadcaster and teacher, Achebe served as a bridge between Africa and the West and set the tone for generations to come of African writers.<br/> <br />Nelson Mandela read his work in prison and once referred to him as a writer "in whose company the prison walls fell down".<br/> <br />A spokeswoman for his publisher confirmed his death but had few other details.<br/> <br />Achebe was 82.
