THE HOUSE STANDS FIRM; Family Life In West Africa

by Sister Marie-Andre du Sacre Coeur ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 26, 1962

In her preface to The House Stands Firm, a penetrating study of family life in West Africa today, Sister Marie-Andre du Sacre Coeur maintains that her book has no other purpose than to ""contribute a little to the sympathetic understanding and cooperation which our African brothers and sisters have every right to expect"". Sister succeeds admirably as she contrasts ancient and modern mores of thinking, living, dressing and working. She describes at length and in great detail betrothal and marriage customs, education, economic life and the roles of women and children in African culture. There is a frank discussion of the custom of polygamy which exists widely in Africa today. Within the past twenty or thirty years, Sister points out, Africa has gone from to air transport, from illiteracy to university studies and from the most automatic universal suffrage. As in every transitional period, she feels, traditional customs exist side by able with new usages. Sister Andre-Marie has come to Love the African people deeply during the many years she has lived there caring for the sick and doing social work. She writes of them with real insight and compassion, and, as a result, The House Stands Firm is a book which can contribute much to a better understanding of the people of an emerging nation.

Pub Date: Oct. 26, 1962

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Bruce

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1962

Categories: NONFICTION