My father never did get a pair of spectacles. Until the day he died, he used a magnifying glass. Thus opens the story of Kerem, former freedom fighter and exile. Like his father, who used a magnifying glass to examine the sculptures he carved with such care, Kerem scrutinises the key experiences of his life. A life set against one of the greatest continental upheavals of the 20th century: Africa extricating itself from colonial rule to embark on the slippery road of independence. Kerem traces the contours of his own past. With humour and passion he brings to life the full cast of the African struggle: from his parents, steeped in traditional values, to the engaging priest who knows more than he lets on, the corrupt new officials, and his British girlfriend. With longing he recalls his village childhood, which was he now realises, the best of times. A novel which sets out to personalise one of the greatest continental upheavals of the 20th century. With humour and passion it explores the life and key experiences of Kerem, a boy from a rural village in a mythical country in Southern Africa who joins the anti-government forces and later goes into exile. The author captures the contented rhythm of an African childhood and, teams with colourful characters, the full cast of the African struggle: from Kerem's parents, saturated with traditional values, to the engaging priest who knows more than he lets on, the corrupt new officials and Kerem's British girlfriend, Rita. It's a powerful and tragic story, as Kerem returns from exile to see all he fought for corrupted. But in the bleak finale, the individual prevails.