Super Short Summary

Scarlet Song, a novel by Mariama Bâ, tells the story of Ousmane, a Senegalese man, and Mireille, a French diplomat's daughter, who fall in love in 1960s Dakar despite significant cultural and racial differences. The couple faces societal and familial opposition, resulting in deeply entrenched conflicts influenced by tradition, cultural disparities, and post-colonial tensions. The narrative explores themes of race, gender, and cultural identity as Ousmane struggles to balance his heritage with his relationship, leading to mounting complications in their marriage. Sensitive topics such as mental health crises and domestic violence appear in the book.