Literature is never written – or read – for entertainment alone. There is always another purpose. Discuss in relation to two books Reading a book can be entertaining; that does not mean however, that the book is written for entertainment alone. At least one alternative purpose always exists. In the case of the books “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou and “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, it is obvious that, apart from entertainment, there is at least one more purpose of writing. Both Achebe 's and Angelou 's work, have in common the fact, that they have been written in order to relate information to the readers. “Things Fall Apart” serves the purpose of writing an alternative history and making the Igbo culture known, while “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” serves the purpose of raising awareness and educating its readers about the racial segregation in the United States, during the great depression, as well as providing them with the reason as to why Maya decided to become a writer. Angelou, however writes her story, not only for the sake of her readers, but also for herself, because it is a way of self-healing and relief. Things Fall Apart is a short novel about Okonkwo, an established member of Umuofia, which is an Igbo village in what now is south-eastern Nigeria. Although it is a work of fiction, the culture of the Igbo tribe is similar to that of most pre-colonial african villages, including the village Ogidi, where Achebe, the author of the book,