Margaret Lenta Continues the Political Novel Debate with a Reflection on “New Literature”
Margaret Lenta began Part Two of the Sunday Independent‘s Political Novel Debate with the following article, entitled “New Literature for a Changed World?”.
In this piece, Lenta examines the development of an exciting new South African literature following the publication of JM Coetzee’s Disgrace in 1999. She looks at four novels which, for her, represent “new approaches to tradition and history” – Coconut by Kopano Matlwa, A Man Who is Not a Man by Thando Mgqolozana, David’s Story by Zoë Wicomb and Unconfessed by Yvette Christiansë.
Until the first democratic elections in 1994, writers were under pressure to restrict their subject matter to the struggles to abolish apartheid and allow all adult citizens the vote. Until these aims were achieved, it was felt, no other human rights issues should receive attention. Assertions that the law disadvantaged women, that religions other than Christianity were unfairly treated, that many subjects, political and social, should not be mentioned in print, went unchallenged.
Arguments about this exclusive focus became irrelevant in 1996, when a constitution was accepted which defined broad principles relating to personal liberty and a just state. The ways in which these principles could be implemented needed to be taken up in written and spoken debates across the land, but writers needed time to think, and euphoria is not the best stimulant of creativity.
Book details
- Disgrace by JM Coetzee
EAN: 9780099289524
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- Coconut by Kopano Matlwa
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EAN: 9781770093362
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eBook: Coconut by Kopano Matlwa
eBook type: PDF
EAN: 9781431403899
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- A Man Who is Not a Man by Thando Mgqolozana
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EAN: 9781869141769
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- David’s Story by Zoe Wicomb
EAN: 9780795701092
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- Unconfessed by Yvette Christiansë
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EAN: 9780795702587
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Apr
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