Coming of the Dry Season

by Charles Mungoshi

These ten short stories from the prize-winning Zimbabwean writer, were banned in (the then) Rhodesia, but some were published in Europe. One of the stories, 'The Setting Sun and the Rolling World', gave its title to another acclaimed collection.

Genres: Zimbabwe, African Literature

61 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Charles Mungoshi was a Zimbabwean writer. His works included short stories and novels in both Shona and English. He also wrote poetry. He has a wide range, including anti-colonial writings and children's books. He wrote about post-colonial oppression as well. The awards he won included the Noma Award in 1992 and the Commonwealth Writers Prize (Africa Region) twice in the years 1988 and 1998. Two of his novels, one in Shona and the other in English, both published in 1975 won the International PEN Awards. He was married to an actress Jesesi Mungoshi.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mungoshi uses these stories to make you feel the more uncomfortable feelings of life. I read The Crow while biting my lips and with hairs raised on my neck, waiting for the conclusion, wishing it would end. His stories are riddled with hard reality and even the happy endings are sad. They leave you feeling haunted.

[Vivianne Masiyambiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Zimbabwean Literature always feels like breathing in the scent of home for me. Everything is familiar, from the names that roll easily off the tongue in my brain as I read, to the history that I may never have experienced but which somehow has been ingrained in me from birth.

I found this anthology beautiful and poignant and a tad bit unsettling in some stories. Yet I loved each story Mungoshi penned. The stories Coming of the Dry Season and the Crow stood out to me, particularly their takes on silence, mental health, and coming of age.

Definitely a 5 for me

[Sebenzile K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading these short African stories by Charles Mungoshi. They are a true reflection of life in Africa. The stories are well written, with some of them being quite humorous. It's Mungoshi at his best.

[Don Nemaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

really loved these 10 short stories. the stories examine a number of issues like on the conflict of african beliefs and westernization, economic plight of the black african in colonial times