Maryse conde passed. She was easily one of my favorite writers, for many many of her brilliant books. She was quite wonderful, brilliant, as a writer. I hope we all can take note of her work. Ngugi had a more important impact on the development of decolonization, decoloniality; but her output of fiction was more significant, in my opinion. More important in terms of the overall oeuvre, and with so many really fine novels. I must confess i liked only some of ngugi's novels; conde i liked all, but really loved a few. She was eminently worthy of the highest award, another scandal that she didn't get the nobel prize. But that doesn't matter, she is a jewel in the crown of caribbean and black literature, one for us to honor up there with tony morrison, another of my favorites. Both women were deeply ensconced in history, in restoration of black presence in the historical past and in our awareness of black values. She was very independent, meaning not subservient to negritude claims (she's guadeloupean). I once invited her to present at the ALA, and even traveled to paris to try to convince her, but the fees were too high for us.
Shoulda found a way to pay!
Anyway, i ask that we salute her memory, the great writer, so so inventive, so so good with language. More important than the nobel award is our recognition, our thanks and appreciation for the work of this truly great writer.
Ken
Kenneth Harrow
517 803 8839
Emeritus Professor of English, Michigan State University
Harrow@msu/edu
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