September 15, 2006

Dhooswan Saymi, The Eclipse, trans. Tejratna Kansakar (Kathmandu: Nepal Press, 1967). 203 pages.

Originally published in Newari in 1956 and translated into Nepali in 1963, it's hard to tell what kind of impact this book might have had on its original audience. Somewhat similar in scope and tone to Mariamba Ba's Une Si Longue Lettre, Eclipse tells the tale of an unnamed female narrator in a country deeply devided by class and gender. Setbacks and social mores lead the narrator to go from being part of one of the most respected and privileged families in the neighboorhood, to running an illegal bar and whoring to ensure the economic stability of her mother and brother. The book opens and ends with the brother (now older, well-educated and married) with his wife and child vacating the narrator's house to safeguard the morals of his daughter lest she become like her aunt, thus ensuring the dignity of the family name in society.

Powerful and incisive. It is a shame that only three libraries in the US own this book. Eclipse could easily fit into many university syllabi and open up many different discussions.