From the Publisher
"Vera makes the novel new in Africa."—Mandivavarira Taruvinga, Independent Extra (Zimbabwe)"From the oral poetic tradition comes a new young writer, and we hail this arrival as we do the raincloud in the heat of day . . . Butterfly Burning is as passionate, volatile, loving, terrible, clear and confusing as any novel could be."—Nikki Giovanni
"A remarkable novel . . . Keen, vivid. The author's political sense, her critique of colonialism, is intrinsic, never intrusive . . . Vera writes gracefully, depicting with extraordinary elegance the chaos and disorder of township life, the surreal conditions of existence imposed by colonial authority upon the residents."—Michelle Cliff, Village Voice Literary Supplement
"Written in lyrical, metaphor-laden, heavily symbolic prose, this mesmerizing first U. S. appearance of Vera's work is sure to garner attention."—Publishers Weekly
"A rare work of beauty, capturing the oft-tragic poetry of life in a black township in Rhodesia in the 1940s . . . Vera's phrasing and style [give this] story of love, longing, and betrayal a lyric quality . . . Readers of Isabel Allende, A. S. Byatt, or Toni Morrison will all enjoy this introduction to fine African literature. Highly recommended."—Ellen Flexman, Library Journal
"This author is an unflinching guide, and if you trust her to take you off-road, she'll show you an exquisite piece of unmapped landscape."—Anderson Tepper, Time Out (New York)