Head, Bessie

Oxford. 1990. Heinemann. 1st African Writers Series Edition. Very Good in Wrappers . 0435905791. African Writers Series. 144 pages. paperback. Cover design by Keith Pointing Cover illustration by Sunita Singh Author photograph by George Hallett. keywords: Literature South Africa Women . FROM THE PUBLISHER - During her lifetime (1937-86), Bessie Head was hailed as one of Africa's greatest writers. This anthology of stories, personal observations and historic legends - some previously unpublished - is a fitting tribute to her versatility and power as a story-teller and commentator. TALES OF TENDERNESS AND POWER draws on writings which have roots in the author's own experience in Botswana. It reflects her fascination with the country's people and their history and her identification with individuals and their conflicting emotions. ‘She enjoyed observing, smiling, forgiving or raging and then recording.' These tales reveal her affinity with human goodness and tenderness and her fear and resentment of the misuse of power. Bessie Head has been described as writing with ‘an extraordinary simplicity and breadth of vision'. This collection will honour her vision and posthumously reinforce her literary status. ‘It should be widely read for it confirms the stature and rich complexity of Head's literary legend.' Andries Walter Oliphant, New Nation ‘TALES OF TENDERNESS AND POWER is a good book which reasserts Head as one of Africa's great writers, and pays a deserved tribute to a woman who gave the best part of her life to literature.' Kaizer M Nyatsumba, Tribute. inventory #17929 ISBN: 0435905791.