Many women in the third world and even some civilized countries
have been victims of rape and other forms of sexual molestation at one
time or the other. The situation is worse in Africa, where such incidents
go unreported because of fear of stigmatization by society.
In many parts of Africa, the girl-child grows up in an environment that
exposes her to physical, mental, emotional, and sexual abuse that leaves
physical and emotional scars she carries all her life. In The Mystery of a
Stolen Virginity, Charlotte grew in such an environment where she faced
a series of physical, emotional, and sexual molestation. She believed she
had successfully navigated through her treacherous environment and
successfully preserved her virginity for her eventual husband, Anthony
Camper- a loving and very caring man. Throughout their courtship,
sexual relationship was excluded and reserved for the magical wedding
night. It is ironic, even tragic, when she and her husband discovered on
their wedding night that the much cherished and respected virginity
had mysteriously disappeared. This shocking discovery raises several
questions: To whom, when, and where did Charlotte Camper loose her
virginity? Did Charlotte know that she was no longer a virgin? Can
their young marriage survive this early shock?
