Harvest of Thorns tells the powerful story of Benjamin, a young soldier returned from the frontlines of the Zimbabwe Civil War, forced to ask himself what it means to be free in the new Zimbabwe.
Isolated and troubled at boarding school, Benjamin is fascinated by the idea of fighting for the liberation of Rhodesia and transforming it into an independent nation. But upon returning home from the war, he quickly discovers that independence has come at a great cost and that little has changed in his small town. While facing the realities of post-revolution life, Benjamin tries to find happiness in a desperate situation.
Shimmer Chinodya unravels the extraordinary story of Zimbabwe's liberation through masterful storytelling, exploring the profound effects liberation had on society as well as at the level of the individual.
'Remarkable.' Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
'A brutal, honest account of the freedom fighter's struggle for independence in Zimbabwe.' Guardian
'A humane and penetrating look at a brutal government and a bloody revolution.' Publishers Weekly