These are stories from life: stories of grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends, and tales from one's own childhood. They deal with violence but also with hope. They touch and provoke. They offer an inner perspective on the post-colonial society in Zimbabwe.

All the stories are based on letters submitted by survivors of violence from all parts of the country for the project "Breaking the Silence." Tsitsi Dangarembga has transformed them into fictional narratives in collaboration with well-known and emerging Zimbabwean writers, aiming to break the cycle of violence. They provide us with an important insight into the lived reality of people in Zimbabwe.

With a foreword by Madeleine Thien.

"Real change is a puzzle. It requires courage and intelligence from the individual, but even that is not enough. Ultimately, real change requires the courage and intelligence of the collective." from the foreword by Madeleine Thien.