Harvest of the Sun

Retallick Saga #3

by E.V. Thompson

It was 1846; the ship was bound for Australia. Aboard were Josh Retallick and Miriam Thackeray, prisoners destined for the convict settlements . . . until the random hand of fate wrecked their vessel on the Skeleton Coast of South West Africa (Namibia). Far from the brooding Bodmin Moor, Josh and Miriam are strangers in a strange and hostile land, an alien world of Bushmen and Hereros, of foraging Boers and greedy traders, of ivory tusks and smuggled guns. Josh, Miriam, and their son, Daniel, live in times of turbulence until Josh is pardoned. E.V. Thompson's bestselling historical novels sweep magnificently from 19th Century Cornwall to the Africa of the Boer War. They bring the past powerfully to life, offering readers unforgettable evocations of the lives and loves of past generations.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

aka James Munro (Not this James Munro).

E V Thompson was born in London and spent nine years in the Navy before joining Bristol police. He moved to Hong Kong, then Rhodesia and had over 200 stories published before returning to England to become a full-time award-winning writer.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 3rd book in the Retallick series is not set in Cornwall.

It picks up on the ship, The Pride of Liverpool, taking convicts to Australia. One of these convicts being Josh Retallick. Also on board are Miriam Thackeray and her three year old son Daniel.

This was in 1846. The ship did not reach Australia, being wrecked off the Skeleton Coast of South West Africa. It is here in the years up to 1864 that the story builds on the fortunes of Josh, Miriam and Daniel, who are living as Mr & Mrs Retallick and son.

Without risking any spoilers, the story charts the events in the lives of the 5 survivors of the ship wreck. The events cover the harsh and complex inter relationships between the various tribal groups of the region with the European settlers.

The historical setting and the descriptions of the regions through which the Retallick family travelled and settled were fascinating: I frequently had to reach for the atlas and check details about the history of the period to fully understand the narrative.

This book relates back to the 2nd book very well, but would be a worthwhile read on its own too. For me, I now want to read the fourth book in the saga; Singing Spears.

[Mermarie]

[Erroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good novel seeing as I read this out of sequence by reading it before book 1 and 2 but still a good read. Dose come away from the Cornish theme but still enjoyable.

[Nik Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

E.V. Thompson’s third book in the Retallick Saga Harvest of the Sun was published in 1978. It’s a direct sequel of Chase the Wind.

Josh Retallick and Miriam Thackeray with their young son Daniel are sailing to Australia when their ship is wrecked off the Skeleton Coast of South West Africa.

Their small party encounter the Bushmen who have survived in the harsh land and climate for thousands of years. At times of prolonged drought the Bushpeople would abandon newborn babies in order that the mother would survive. (p59).

Next they befriend the Herero tribesmen where they find a German missionary, Hugo Walder, whose ‘capacity for loving his fellow-men was as large as the frame that held his great heart’ (p98).

Josh, Miriam and Daniel live with the missionary and the Herero. They become hardened to the land and its people, treading with care where the neighbouring chief Jonker is concerned. And there is the chief’s vicious ally, the Boer Jacobus Albrecht to contend with as well. ‘Africa is a restless continent, ever changing and shifting in moods – a vast rumbling pot-pourri where fortunes swirl this way and that, like the sand shifting before the four winds’ (p133).

As this is a saga, the narrative – third-person omniscient – covers the period from the early 1840s to 1858. The family also befriends a Jewish trader Aaron and his daughter Hannah. By the time Daniel is seventeen he is an experienced tracker and good shot with a rifle. There are mining opportunities for Josh here too. Inevitably there are clashes between Jonker’s people and the Herero and Josh and his family are caught in between. The reader soon cares about these characters as they overcome a succession of travails, not least the neighbouring Zulu tribesmen, successors to the mighty Shaka. Sadly, good people succumb. Also, past events in their saga have a tendency to rear up and bite. There’s tension, suspense, humility, humanity, physical and geographical conflict, and great insights of the period and place. Indeed, Thompson repeatedly puts the reader in the scene and does not shirk from revealing the unpleasant gruesome aspects of the time along with the raw beauty of the land. This is history and as such needs no trigger warnings.

Any fans of H Rider Haggard or Wilbur Smith would appreciate this saga. The next instalment is Singing Spears (which I read out of order in 1990 and was the first Thompson book I’d read – and clearly not the last).

[Wendy Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This old, secondhand book literally disintegrated in my hands as I read it. The prose style is dated and the baddies a tad cliched but otherwise this was a good read. Set in 19th century South West Africa it is a harrowing tale of the trials faced by Europeans and the tribal wars between the indigenous people. I haven't read the first two book in the series but did not find that a disadvantage.

[Caroline Templer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd in Retallick series of books .
Well worth reading, the author uses his previous job as a police officer in many different countries to make the story fill more factual. They have romance, history and an all round fill good feeling in this and all the other books.

[Rebecca Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

As gripping as always.

There does need to be a trigger warning for a sexual assault which is written from such a male and unrealistic perspective it was really unpleasant… but it is a novel of its time.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read from the era and location, but too simply written for my taste.

[Terriamn Murrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

These characters are so strong you can't put the book down. Need to get singing spears the next book.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of this author I have read. Enjoyed it immenesly

[Garry Marlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and will continue witht he series but preferred the first two book, maybe because they were set in Cornwall.

[Sally Mander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good. #HarvestoftheSun

[Tania Easton · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it loved it can't wait to read the next one.