Lesotho is a landlocked country located in southern Africa, surrounded by South Africa. The country has a population of approximately 2.2 million people, and is known for its mountainous terrain, which has earned it the nickname "The Kingdom in the Sky." Lesotho is also known for being one of the highest-altitude countries in the world, with the lowest point in the country being 1,400 metres above sea level. The country's economy is largely based on agriculture, with maize, sorghum, and wheat being the main crops grown. Lesotho also has a growing textile industry, which is largely supported by foreign investment. Despite the country's natural beauty and resources, Lesotho faces a number of challenges, including high levels of poverty and HIV/AIDS, which is one of the highest rates in the world. The government has made significant efforts to address these issues, but there is still a long way to go in terms of improving the quality of life for the people of Lesotho. Overall, Lesotho is a country with a rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, but also faces a number of social and economic challenges that must be addressed in order for it to thrive.

In Dreams for Lesotho: Independence, Foreign Assistance, and Development, John Aerni-Flessner studies the post-independence emergence of Lesotho as an example of the uneven ways in which people experienced development at the end of colonialism in Africa. The book posits that development became the language through which Basotho (the people of Lesotho) conceived of the dream of independence, both before and after the 1966 transfer of power. While many studies of development have focused on the perspectives of funding governments and agencies, Aerni-Flessner approaches development as an African-driven process in Lesotho. The book examines why both political leaders and ordinary people put their faith in development, even when projects regularly failed to alleviate poverty. He argues that the potential promise of development helped make independence real for Africans. The book utilizes government archives in four countries, but also relies heavily on newspapers, oral histories, and the archives of multilateral organizations like the World Bank. It will interest scholars of decolonization, development, empire, and African and South African history.