This essay collection addresses African writing ranging from transcriptions of ancient (Khoikhoi/San) folktales to some of the classic texts of the African English canon as well as more recent writing about urgent contemporary social and gender issues. As the title indicates, Annie Gagiano is fascinated by the way these texts engage with the forces that damage and threaten life and quality of life in various African contexts. She pays tribute by means of carefully argued analyses to the authors political courage and social concern and to their subtle delineations of African characters...