Farmer's sensitivity for the peoples of Africa is one of respect, admiration, and affection for the Shona culture. She is never patronizing and seldom critical. When she does express a negative view about an aspect of the traditional life—bride bartering— she is careful to put the criticism in the mouths of native characters rather than white characters. While she sometimes criticizes personal behavior, she also explains the motivation for it and spreads the bad behavior fairly among native and white characters. Readers get a negative view of the jealous aunt and the nouveau riche relatives who imitate European practices, but they also hear criticism of the white settlers who colonized Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Farmer is also careful about the connotations of words. She does not want to play to any stereotypes her American readers may have.....
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