35 pages 1 hour read

Bessie Head

When Rain Clouds Gather

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1968

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Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Bessie Head’s When Rain Clouds Gather masterfully explores themes of resilience, cultural integration, and personal redemption against the backdrop of a rural Botswana village. Critics praise its vivid characterizations and poignant social commentary. Some note a slow narrative pace, yet the novel’s rich prose and deep emotional resonance largely triumph.

Who should read this

Who Should Read When Rain Clouds Gather?

A reader who would enjoy When Rain Clouds Gather by Bessie Head is likely interested in African literature, post-colonial themes, and social justice. Fans of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Nadine Gordimer's July's People will appreciate its exploration of rural life and resistance in Botswana.

Recommended

Reading Age

15-18years

Book Details

Themes
Relationships: Marriage
Genre
African Literature
Period
Heinemann African Writers