The Zambian short story in English : A contextual study of form, theme and linguistic medium

Abstract

Drawing on both recent short story theory and contemporary African literary criticism, this essay offers a brief history of short story writing in Zambia, mindful to highlight literary and extra-literary influences on the main thematic and technical trends, and subjects selected works to detailed scrutiny. The dominant themes of the literature - courtship and marriage, problems of urban life, and the female experience in a male-dominated society - are discussed in 4 isolation as well as in relation to wider socio-cultural developments in Zambia since independence, and the struc¬tural and stylistic devices employed in some of the stories are evaluated in the context of particular stories' thematic concerns and/or desired effects. Coming at a time when critics are still largely indifferent to African short fiction, it is hoped that the issues raised here will stimulate further research and study in this sadly neglected area.