Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76047 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Observer
'a compelling portrait of a ruined country.'

Daily Telegraph
'she writes with sympathy and concision, and balances the needs of
her twin stories.'

The Spectator
'compelling...Lamb has a remarkable pair of stories to tell, and does so extremely well.'

Customer Reviews

A nitty-gritty account with lots of insight
This book gives plenty of insight to the current situation in Zimbabwe.
There were a couple of places where I thought the facts were wrong (about some points of little consequence to the main story) and this then left me wondering whether all of the reporting was accurate. I enjoyed this and The Africa House, but I do find Chrtistina's style slightly awkward. She is a very good journalist. I ripped through this book in a week and could not put it down.
I wondered why the Houghs did not covert their farm into a workers' cooperative with Mr Hough retained as a salaried agricultural adviser - but perhaps even that would not have staved off the attack they suffered. Because, ultimately, this is a regime that is not looking for or interested in solutions. It just wants to retain power.
If you are interested in understanding the situation in Zimbabwe then you will not be disappointed if you buy this book. It is very good. I would also highly recommend Mukiwa (White Boy in Africa) by Peter Godwin - his book is lighter and there is little overlap with House of Stone.
House of Stone really shows the corruption and the seamier side of human behaviour. It is such a tragedy that people are suffering so in a country that should be 'rich'. God bless Zimbabwe.

Gripping, utterly absorbing and orginal narrative on Zimbabwe's troubles
This book grips from the very first page and the device of having alternate chapters narrated by the farmer (Hough) and his maid (Aqui) really draws you into their story. Ultimately a tragic tale of what has happened to Zimbabwe under Mugabe and neither 'side' comes out as winners in this tale. The love of both Hough and Aqui for their beautiful country and their sorrow at its mindless destruction is the most compelling aspect of the book. Mugabe himself is a shadowy and sinister character and I would have liked a little more about him, but maybe that's for another book! I was a big fan of both The Africa House and The Sewing Circles of Herat by Lamb but I think this is her best book yet.

House of Stone by Christina Lamb
An extraordinary story, intelligently and sensitively told by Christina Lamb, House of Stone is a compelling account of the human consequences of political tragedy.