It was first published in 1989 by The Women's Press, Ltd., in London, England, and republished in 2012 by Pan Macmillan in Johannesburg[1] with a new foreword by Jay Naidoo.
[2] The book is about Emma Mashinini, Secretary of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union.
She was mentally tortured and given subpar conditions in which to live during her stay at multiple prisons.
Upon leaving prison, she resumes union work, and must deal with a variety of psychological problems.
"[3] The work received positive reviews from Publishers Weekly and from Thomas Thale of the Vista University Soweto Campus.