Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales, The (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Bessie Head (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0435909819 | ISBN-13: 978-0435909819 | Publication Date: August 13, 2008

A sequence of Botswana village tales about subjects such as the breakdown of family life and the position of women in this society told with all the skill that one has come to expect of Bessie Head.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Collector of Treasures explores the lives of Botswana villagers, both before their colonization by the British and after their independence in 1966. Bessie Head tells tales of ancient leaders, of educated women trying to find their way between city and village life, of women who must suffer while men treat the independence of their country as an opportunity to throw away all restrictions, British or tribal. In these stories, it is the women who suffer most - who bear the children after the men have deserted them, who endure the village gossip, who raise the money for their children's school fees as their husbands support other women. But though they suffer, these are women of strength and inner beauty. Johannah, tall and striking, reminds the villagers "the children of a real woman do not get lean or die." Dikeledi, in jail for killing her husband, still "had always found gold amidst the ash, deep loves that had joined her heart to the hearts of others." While men are often the villains of these stories, Collector of Treasures also creates a new hero, the kind of man she calls "a poem of tenderness." Bessie Head's love for her characters is rich and glowing, as strong as her anger at those, British or African, who destroy the traditions of empathy, hard-work, and sharing that lie at the heart of this goodness. Her words flow through their "uncertain story of independence" like a great, golden river. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Erica Bauermeister --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Born in South Africa, Bessie Head, had a traumatic life and she drew heavily upon her experiences for her novels. Her first novel, When Rain Clouds Gather grew out of her experience as a refugee, and was followed by Maru and A Question of Power (1973). In 1977 she published The Collector of Treasures, a book of short stories exploring the position of women in Africa.

Bessie Head died in Serowe, Botswana in 1986, aged only 49.

Product Details

• Paperback: 109 pages
• Publisher: Longman (August 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0435909819
• ISBN-13: 978-0435909819
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bessie Head's "The Collector of Treasures" raises awareness to womens civil rights or lack thereof., November 25, 2007

By 

J. J. Huerta (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales, The (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

On the level of moral philosophy, Bessie Head's tales examine the development of a civilization and the ethical views established throughout their expansion. Her accounts institute lessons about love and romance, rituals, new religion, law, and material wealth. Bessie brilliantly sets the foundation of her collection with an extraordinary account of the origin of the Botswana village. The advancement of Christianity within the rural community sets the stage for divided beliefs and practices. Wealth and materialism create stratification and the villagers strive to reach and maintain the status quo.

Ethical relativism and the problems associated with the majority rule theory come into play throughout the progression of this civilization. With the group's morality being determined by the majority male population, the women are left to decide for themselves, whether the morals are merely professed values established to accommodate and maintain the dominant male role or actual ethical values instituted for the good of all the inhabitants of the village. There are many heroines throughout Head's sagas that determine that the rules are unjust. These female protagonists bravely stand their ground refusing to be mistreated and abused any longer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended!, September 2, 2011

By 

Flygirl1968 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales, The (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Bessie Head is my all time favourite African writer. She has great and keen eye for observing and telling stories about life. This story of women in Botswana is just great. I highly recommend it.