IslandsThis novel of epic proportions from South Africa, set between 1650 and 1710, covers the first fifty years of the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope. Beautifully rendered, this is a world and a time never before dealt with in fiction-a period when powerful colonizers took over the lands of Hottentot tribes, exposing aborigines for the first time to Western eyes and Western ways. Through the life stories of seven men-all involved with and defined in one way or another by Pieternella, thebeautiful daughter of the first mixed marriage of the new colony-we gain an understanding of the vast historical forces at work. Teeming with characters, rich with lived experience, gripping in its unexpected turns, Islands is a story of greed, power, war, courage, and international intrigue, at once a meticulously researched portrait of the age and a great adventure story. |
Contents
Voices from the Sea | 1 |
The Remaking of Chief Harry | 3 |
Peter Havgard | 57 |
Copyright | |
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arrack asked assegai Autshumao barrel Bart Batavia beach boat boatswain brandy brought Cape captain Castle cattle chest Chief Harry child church clothes commander Company Company's Cooper's Island Council Daniel dark Deneyn door drink dunes Dutch East eyes face farm father fire fiscal fish free burghers French front Frooij Goringhaicona Goske Grevenbroek guilders gunwale hand Hans Michiel head heard Herrie Hollanders Honour Hottentots Hugo Jan Vos knew Kobus Koina kraal Krotoa Lamotius Lodge look Maijke Mauritius Michiel morning mountain mouth never night Oedasoa oxen Peter Pieternel Pieternella posthouse postkeeper Riebeeck river Robben Island sail sailors Saldanha Bay Salomon sent sergeant sheep ship shouted slave sloop soldiers Stel stood Sven Table Bay talk tell Theuntje thought tobacco told took turned wagon waiting walked wanted wife wind woman young