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For an introduction to the literature of a country or culture, an anthology is unrivaled. Yet it is not always easy to find an
interesting selection of cultural anthologies in one's local bookshop. Too often these collections,
commonly published by university or small presses, get pigeon-holed as college textbooks not for general
consumption, and we are left to choose between year-end 'best of' and a few
theme‒related collections. However, if you are a literary explorer of this blue planet as we are, you may have to dig a little, but
wonderful discoveries await. The last few decades has seen a surge in anthologies of women's writing published, and many of
these splendid offerings are collected together around country or culture. Here, in a special section, we present seven reviews of cultural anthologies
which collect short fiction by women. Since this is such a small selection of what is available, we have included a list of other
notable anthologies for you to explore.
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SEPARATE JOURNEYS: SHORT STORIES BY CONTEMPORARY INDIAN WOMEN
Edited by Geeta Dharmarajan
Much of the Indian literature I had read in the past was written at least partially with the Western reader in mind, whereas these stories give a fascinating glimpse of another India with no thought for the outsider, and I rationed myself to one a day in order to savour them....
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Reviewed by Rachel Hayes
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CUBANA: CONTEMPORARY FICTION BY CUBAN WOMEN
Edited by Mirta Yáñez
Cubana is more than just an anthology; it is a book with a mission. In her introduction, Cuban writer Mirta Yáñez explains the enigma of women in Cuban literature.
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Reviewed by Andy Barnes
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ARAB WOMEN WRITERS
Edited by Dalya Cohen-Mor
If you want a taste of the cream of the crop amongst Arab women writers, seek out this book. It comprises 60 stories by 40 prominent women, representing countries along the width and breadth of the Arab world.
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Reviewed by Akeela Gaibie-Dawood
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SHORT STORIES BY LATIN AMERICAN WOMEN THE MAGIC AND THE REAL
Edited by Celia Correas De Zapata
If I asked you to name women writers of Latin America, how many could you name? If you were me, it would not be many. And if you, like me, seek to remedy that yawning gap in your reading, I would recommend you start with this wonderful anthology.
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Reviewed by Jana Herlander
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SCÉALTA: SHORT STORIES BY IRISH WOMEN
Edited by Rebecca O'Connor
The Irish women writers featured in Scéalta truly do have, as editor Rebecca O’Connor writes, "the gift of the gab". Sitting down with this short fiction anthology is like sitting around the kitchen table with a diverse group of best friends—loud, emotional, and eclectic.
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Reviewed by Caitlin Fehir
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FRICTIONS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF FICTION BY WOMEN
Edited by Anna Gibbs and Alison Tilson
Frictions is an anthology of writing by Australian women, published in 1982 in response to the editors' belief that women were under-represented in traditional anthologies. "We wish to do more than help redress a balance," they say in their introduction, "we want to upset the economy".
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Reviewed by Rachel Hayes
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SPEAKING FOR MYSELF: AN ANTHOLOGY OF ASIAN WOMEN'S WRITING
Edited by Sukrita Paul Kumar and Malashri Lai
Reaching across the vast landmass that is Asia, which stretches from the Middle East to Japan, and from Russia south to Indonesia, this impressive anthology brings together short fiction and poetry from over sixty authors representing thirty-four Asian countries.
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Reviewed by Jana Herlander
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MORE ANTHOLOGIES...
Here's a list of other notable anthologies we've discovered in our literary travels.
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