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51 pages 1 hour read

A Question of Power

Fiction | Novel | Adult

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Book Brief

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Bessie Head

A Question of Power

Fiction | Novel | Adult
Book Details
Pages

206

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Botswana • 1960s

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In A Question of Power by Bessie Head, Elizabeth, a woman who has left apartheid South Africa, battles her mental health and navigates the nature of good and evil through surreal and nightmarish experiences in Botswana. Elizabeth’s fragmented journey alternates between delusion and reality as she copes with her past trauma and current challenges, learning about power and evil through supernatural encounters. The book features anti-Black racism, anti-gay representations, child abuse, sexual abuse, suicide ideation, and psychological trauma.

Melancholic

Mysterious

Dark

Challenging

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.0

1,084 ratings

59%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

A Question of Power by Bessie Head offers a powerful exploration of mental illness, identity, and colonialism. Reviewers praise its intense and lyrical prose, commending Head's ability to navigate complex themes deeply and authentically. Some readers, however, find the narrative challenging due to its fragmented structure and abstract style. Overall, it's a compelling yet demanding read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Question of Power?

A reader passionate about exploring complex themes of identity, mental health, and post-colonial Africa will be captivated by Bessie Head's A Question of Power. Fans of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Tsitsi Dangarembga's Nervous Conditions will particularly enjoy this intricate and deeply personal narrative.

4.0

1,084 ratings

59%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

206

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Botswana • 1960s

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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