Innocents Book

"[Afrika's] work is consistently clear, unembroidered, often very moving and has won him South Africa's top literary prizes… [The Innocents is] a novel of great depth and sincerity with its 'thriller' element tempered by a sober summation of exactly what taking up arms to achieve a political purpose demands"—Cape Times

"Revolt, conviction and crisis are drawn into finely crafted contention…a story about the hopes and frailty of our time… that's at once provocative and readable."—Femina

Inspired by the author's years as an activist in Apartheid-era Cape Town, The Innocents is a gripping account of how in the myriad battles of our recent past, an even greater number of private wars were lost or won.

Yusuf and three of his friends attempt to prove themselves worthy of the People's Army by committing acts of sabotage against Cape Town's wealthy. Thandi, the bewitching niece of the People's Army leader, accompanies them as an accomplice, but also to report back on their achievements. As Yusuf struggles to reconcile his strong religious beliefs that condemn the murder of innocents and his group's increasingly extreme political strategies, they are all drawn into a vortex of fear, heroism, disaster, and betrayal that reveals the greatest tragedies of lost innocence.

Tatamkhulu Afrika (1920-2004) was born in Egypt and raised by South African foster parents. Until his death drew a pension from the combatant arm of the African National Congress. During his lifetime, he published eight collections of poetry, two novels and four novellas, and won every South African prize and award for which his work was eligible.