The Joys of Exile: Stories

by Paul Tiyambe Zeleza

Set mostly in Africa, these stories range from the deceptively simple to the highly allegorical. Zeleza explores the paradoxes of human separateness and delves into the loneliness and vulnerability we all experience as exiles of one kind or another.

About the Author:
Paul Tiyambe Zeleza was born in Zimbabwe and educated in Malawi, and is now a professor of history at Trent University, Peterborough. His first novel, Smouldering Charcoal, was published by Heinemann.

Genres: Africa

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

Reviews

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection encompassing the African experience of the generation before and after independence. Despite the title most of the stories are not about exile but focus on the conflicts between generations or those sparked by trying to move beyond clan affinity. The stories are honest about the amount of work left to do after independence was won and the ease with which new overlords replaced the colonizers, with not much greater deference to public will. Interesting and short enough for the casual reader.

[Susan Chow-Dukhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of short stories of characters that become emotionally disconnected from the world and people around them, despite attempts to lead a normal life or to discover their roots. Some of the misfortune is of their own making, through actions and/or decisions made in the past.
While some of the stories are interesting, there is a lack of variety throughout the collection which brings down the overall impact presented to the reader.