House of Stone

In 2000, after Robert Mugabe had launched his controversial land reformprogramme, Nigel Hough held on to a fervent hope that he might keep holdof his ostrich farm. A few months later, however, he arrived home to seehis family residence and livelihood violently seized by veterans - and tohis shock saw his former maid Akwe at their head. By tracing theintertwining lives of the Nigel and Akwe - rich and poor, white and black,master and maid - Christina Lamb not only presents both sides of theZimbabwean dilemma, but captures in achingly intimate terms her ownuplifting conviction that, although savaged, there is still hope for oneof Africa's most beautiful countries.