Ourika

By Claire de Durfort Duras

(3.5 stars) • 10 reviews

A girl discovers that wealth and privilege cannot protect her from the sting of racism, leading her down a path of loneliness and spiritual seeking.

Genres

Culture/Civilization/Society Gender & Sexuality Studies Literature Fiction

Released

2015-06-29

Formats

epub (images)

epub3 (images)

epub

mobi

mobi (images)

txt

Read Now

Summary

"Ourika" by Claire de Duras is a heartbreaking story set in early 19th-century France, that shows the struggles of a young Black woman raised in wealth, but always an outsider looking in. The story centers around a girl brought from Senegal to live among the French upper class, but as she grows, she realizes she’ll never truly belong because of the color of her skin, even though she's been given many gifts. This sad truth makes her feel distant from those around her, especially a man she secretly adores, with the story carefully examining her feelings of being alone and disconnected, with the protagonist seeking comfort from her difficulties, and pursuing religion to find peace in a world that refuses to accept her.