Published in 2007 by Jacana Media

ISBN-13: 9781770092068
ISBN-10: 1770092064

From the desert of Algeria to the savannahs of Kenya and the jungles of Equatorial Guinea, this quintessential reader's guide includes reviews and excerpts from notable books for each of Africa's 54 countries.

A Basket of Leaves explores many of the best-known works on Africa, such as Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria), All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes by Maya Angelou (Ghana), The Viceroy of Ouidah by Bruce Chatwin (Benin), Age of Iron by J.M. Coetzee (South Africa), Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey (Rwanda), and When Rain Clouds Gather by Bessie Head (Botswana).

“The clever and simple idea behind Geoff Wisner's A Basket of Leaves is to give readers a sense of Africa by introducing them to 99 Books that Capture the Spirit of Africa ... He does a very good job, and it is what he writes in A Basket of Leaves—and not the ninety-nine excerpts he offers—that make this a good and useful overview of and introduction to Africa ... he packs an enormous amount of variety and information into such a manageable book.”
— The Complete Review

“A Basket of Leaves is an invaluable resource for anyone thinking of visiting Africa, as well as a practical demonstration of the continent’s astonishing diversity.”
— London Review Bookshop

“All [the books included] are enticingly described and should inspire some budding Africanists to engage in some fascinating reading.”
— American Library Association

“A Basket of Leaves is accordingly an unusually revealing book about Africa, seen from the perspective of many great writers, and a must-have for all who take an interest in African literature, history and contemporary affairs.”
— BOOK SA