So Long a Letter

by Mariama Ba

Rating: 4 (5 votes)

Tags: Set in Senegal Female author

So Long a Letter

Description:
Written by award-winning African novelist Mariama Ba and translated from the original French, So Long a Letter has been recognized as one of Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century. The brief narrative, written as an extended letter, is a sequence of reminiscences - some wistful, some bitter - recounted by recently widowed Senegalese school teacher Ramatoulaye Fall. Addressed to a lifelong friend, Aissatou, it is a record of Ramatoulaye's emotional struggle for survival after her husband betrayed their marriage by taking a second wife. This semi-autobiographical account is a perceptive testimony to the plight of educated and articulate Muslim women. Angered by the traditions that allow polygyny, they inhabit a social milieu dominated by attitudes and values that deny them status equal to men. Ramatoulaye hopes for a world where the best of old customs and new freedom can be combined. Considered a classic of contemporary African women's literature, So Long a Letter is a must-read for anyone interested in African literature and the passage from colonialism to modernism in a Muslim country.

Reviews:

Read Around The World Challenge user profile avatar for Monta
(3 months ago)
23 Jul, 2024
Mariama Bâ's So Long a Letter offers a poignant and insightful glimpse into the life of Senegalese women, revealing their struggles and resilience within a deeply rooted cultural and religious context. The novel's exploration of Senegalese traditions and the challenges faced by women provides a compelling and enlightening perspective on gender and identity in a changing society.

Add comment

Country: Senegal flag Senegal
Language: EN
Genre: Feminism

More books from Senegal

God's Bits of Wood The Most Secret Memory of Men Curse

More books from Read Around Africa Challenge

The Fortunes of Wangrin Brief aan Cooper en de wereld His Only Wife