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So long a letter (translated from Une si longue lettre) is a novel originally written in French by the Senegalese writer Mariama Bâ. Its theme is the condition of women in African society.
[edit] Plot summary
The book is written in the form of a letter written by a recently widowed woman, Ramatoulaye, to her friend in the mourning period after the death of her husband. Ramatoulaye's husband (named Moudou Fall) had died of a heart attack. Ramatoulaye evokes happy memories of when they were students who were impatient to change the world, and of the hope inspired by the independence of Senegal from France. And while her step-family comes to take over the affairs of the deceased, Ramatoulaye sadly remembers the day when her husband (Modou) took another younger wife (Binetou), ruining 25 years of life together and of love. According to Ramatoulaye's Muslim faith, she must remain in seclusion for an extended period of time following the death.
[edit] Sources
Spoilers end here.
