African Laughter: Four Visits to Zimbabwe [Paperback]

Doris Lessing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 1993

A highly personal story of the eminent British writer returning to her African roots that is "brilliant . . . [and] captures the contradictions of a young country."--New York Times Book Review

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Powerfully written and passionately felt, this memoir details four trips that novelist Lessing made to her homeland of Zimbabwe in the years since its founding in the place of the former Rhodesia.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Because Lessing grew up in Zimbabwe, she has drawn upon her African experiences in many of her writings, including Going Home (1957. o.p.), the story of her return to a land still ruled by a white minority. This time, she returns to an independent Zimbabwe in 1982 to be greeted by The Monologue: white complaints about black ineptitude. Subsequent trips in 1988 and 1989 focus on black frustration with the slowness of change ("Why can't Mugabe chief of state do anything about . . . ?") as well as with corruption. A 1992 update ends the book on a somber note: economic decline, drought, and AIDS. This is quite a fascinating look at life in Zimbabwe from someone who has an intimate knowledge of the country. Af rican Laughter is highly recommended. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/92.
- Paul H. Thomas, Hoover Inst. Lib., Stanford, Cal.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; 1st HarperPerennial Ed 1993/1st Printing edition (August 4, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060924330
• ISBN-13: 978-0060924331
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,559,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Travel > Africa > Zimbabwe

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars notitle, November 18, 2005

By 

C. L Wilson (Elmhurst, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: African Laughter: Four Visits to Zimbabwe (Hardcover)

Woof! What a read! 442 pages in 6 days. Ask me anything about Zimbabwe. The home of Lessing's childhood from 5 til 30, when she moved to England. Easy reading, at times not too organized, nor, I think, rewritten too much. Could have been better. But what she is so good at is the small detail - about the dogs, or food, or dress. The small things that make up life. I think she tries hard not to be judgmental, to give both sides of the picture after 1980, when Zimbabwe became an independent nation. But it would seem like many countries in Africa today, riddled with corruption and stupidity and lack of foresight. Or the world in general, for that matter. Nowadays, why single out Africa? Sounds like it once was (is?) a beautiful country with a mild climate because it is so high. Very interesting book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book about Zimbabwe, January 4, 2006

By 

Reader "cvrcak1" (Boca Raton, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African Laughter: Four Visits to Zimbabwe (Paperback)

I have never been in Africa and have never read any of the books about the continent except for Nadine Gordiner's fiction. While I loved the begginning of the book, the later parts become a bit sloppy and at time impatient in terms of writing style. The observations, however, about the country of Zimbabwe over the decades, and in the time after declaration of independence are amazing. One is able to follow up on lives of writer's old friends, new people she meets on her trips, amazing animals, plants and food. I have learned a lot about country , it's people and customs, racism, reverse racism, sexism, deseases and corruption a new country is struggling with. Highly recommended read for anyone interested in learning more about this amazing country and African continent.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Unsure Joy, June 26, 2003

By 

N. Swartzendruber (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: African Laughter: Four Visits to Zimbabwe (Paperback)

This was the only non-travel guide about Africa in my local library branch when I got back from 8 months in East Africa, so I picked it up. Certainly a very interesting picture of the slow death of British colonialism, despite Zimbabwean independence in 1980. And the successive trips provide a living view of changing attitudes and opinions, both of European expatriates and Nationals. Her inner dialogue of changes, good and bad (both very grey categories), is very informative as well.

That said, there is only a loose thread of continuing story that flows through the entire text. Granted, she's documenting her travels, but it seems a bit more perspective (or a more involved editor) could have helped give the book a bit more flow. I'd recommend it quickly to those interested in an authentic look at Africa, but probably not for those looking for a casual read during lunch breaks.