The Heart of Redness

By Zakes Mda,

Book cover of The Heart of Redness

Book description

A startling novel by the leading writer of the new South Africa

In The Heart of Redness -- shortlisted for the prestigious Commonwealth Writers Prize -- Zakes Mda sets a story of South African village life against a notorious episode from the country's past. The result is a novel of…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Heart of Redness as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The Heart of Redness is set in a rural Xhosa village on the Wild Coast of South Africa—a pristine environment threatened by a casino and hotel development. I used to visit this area on holidays as a child and was captivated by the rural way of life, tribal huts, unspoiled beaches, and dreamy lagoons. Mda is a master at capturing the beauty and romance of that coast through his evocative prose. The novel also presents a sober warning about the fragility of these environments and how easily they can be destroyed by unscrupulous development.

From Justin's list on South Africa’s landscape and beauty.

Want books like The Heart of Redness?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Heart of Redness.

Browse books like The Heart of Redness

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in love triangle, satire, and casinos?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about love triangle, satire, and casinos.

Love Triangle Explore 73 books about love triangle
Satire Explore 151 books about satire
Casinos Explore 27 books about casinos