An Ordinary Tale About Women and Other Stories

EVOCATIVE PORTRAYALS OF THE EVERYDAY STRUGGLES, JOYS, AND TRAGEDIES OF RURAL MALAY SOCIETY BY A MASTER OF THE SHORT STORY FORM This collection offers a selection of short stories by Fatimah Busu, one of the foremost Malay women writers of the past century. A master of the short story form, Fatimah Busu’ s writing is known for her bold subject matter, fresh approach to language, and idiosyncratic style. Her short stories offer an acute portrayal of the inner contradictions of Malay society, particularly the realities of women in rural Malaysia, grappling with the forces of tradition and modernity. This collection features many of Fatimah Busu’ s iconic early short stories, which won prizes in national literary competitions, and several lesser known stories, which underscore her distinctiveness of style and subject matter. Fatimah Busu’ s evocative fiction blurs the boundaries of social realism, dreamscapes, reimagined mythology, and magic realism. The stories gathered here have been translated into English for the first time.