So Long a Letter | Literary Criticism & Book Review

So Long a Letter Critical Overview

So Long a Letter was an instant critical success, winning the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa. Despite her premature death, Bâ is seen as a major African writer. Her slender first novel, while popular (it was translated into sixteen languages), has also been at the center of controversy. Critics are not sure what to make of Bâ's politics. Some call her a feminist, but others think she betrays feminism. Some are proud of her distinctly African literary voice, but others think she caters to Western values. Some see her envisioning unity across the classes, but others find her novels elitist.

Much of the controversy surrounding Bâ's novel springs from the controversy surrounding Islam and polygamy in Africa today. Ramatoulaye, after all, as the narrator of So Long a Letter, presents herself as a victim of polygamy. This stance draws the critical attention of those who seek to...
(read more)