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The Steps of the Sun
1888--As the rumblings of dissent and racial resentment began to erupt into a savage war between Boer and Briton, so three young men found their lives drawn together.
Matthew Paget, son of an archdeacon, was turbulent, rebellious, and longing for excitement. Throwing away all the privileges that could have been his, he enlisted as a trooper--only to find himself loving the beautiful war-torn country of Africa and finally falling in love with a girl on the enemy side.
Will Marriott, his cousin, was an officer who believed in England's greatness and the glory of battle. But as his comrades were maimed and killed, as he himself was wounded, and then betrayed by a one-time friend, so his values began to change. The one thing that never changed was his love for Frances, Matthew Paget's sister.
Hendon Bashford was an upstart social climber, a swindler and a cheat. Half English, half Boer, he owed allegiance to no one while creating havoc in the lives of more honourable men.
As the passage of war unfolded, so the lives of these three young men, and women they loved, moved towards a tumultuous climax.
Matthew Paget, son of an archdeacon, was turbulent, rebellious, and longing for excitement. Throwing away all the privileges that could have been his, he enlisted as a trooper--only to find himself loving the beautiful war-torn country of Africa and finally falling in love with a girl on the enemy side.
Will Marriott, his cousin, was an officer who believed in England's greatness and the glory of battle. But as his comrades were maimed and killed, as he himself was wounded, and then betrayed by a one-time friend, so his values began to change. The one thing that never changed was his love for Frances, Matthew Paget's sister.
Hendon Bashford was an upstart social climber, a swindler and a cheat. Half English, half Boer, he owed allegiance to no one while creating havoc in the lives of more honourable men.
As the passage of war unfolded, so the lives of these three young men, and women they loved, moved towards a tumultuous climax.
Hardcover
First published September 1, 1983
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About the author
Joanna Trollope
132 books604 followersJoanna Trollope Potter Curteis (aka Caroline Harvey)
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 28, 2024
This is in the context of the Boer war, which I learned about in the context of a very busy undergraduate life. She refers to Cranford so I am positively inclined towards her, as I remember reading that a long while ago, and writing fiction in its universe.
I asked my father if he ever read the novel I am reviewing here which he denied.
There's a fun map of South Africa in this book, for the cartographically inclined, but it is not at the beginning of the novel, like some of the fantasy novels I recall, it is tucked right before Chapter 5. The only location this one doesn't have which the book's copy does is Port Alfred, which is a little northeast of Port Elizabeth.
The reason I've been so interested in them is tea. The types in South Africa are different from the sorts in Asia. My mother had suggested I try them once. I remember finding them of such a different calibre than I was expecting that it was hard for me to change my expectations.
Maybe I could try again though, removing the expectation that it be anything like the others, as it is okay, after all.
I asked my father if he ever read the novel I am reviewing here which he denied.
There's a fun map of South Africa in this book, for the cartographically inclined, but it is not at the beginning of the novel, like some of the fantasy novels I recall, it is tucked right before Chapter 5. The only location this one doesn't have which the book's copy does is Port Alfred, which is a little northeast of Port Elizabeth.
The reason I've been so interested in them is tea. The types in South Africa are different from the sorts in Asia. My mother had suggested I try them once. I remember finding them of such a different calibre than I was expecting that it was hard for me to change my expectations.
Maybe I could try again though, removing the expectation that it be anything like the others, as it is okay, after all.
September 24, 2023
Dealing with the subject of people's natures and emotions, this is a descriptive book of the Boer war and family ties that paints a life like picture of each character. While the book is well paced three fourth the way, the ending is a little abrupt and uses changing human nature as a crutch.
Barring the sporadic confusion in transition and hurried ending to try and tie up loose ends, the book itself is an interesting read that takes one through a journey of vivid scenery and intricate details of the lives of the characters. It might not be the most satisfying completion to the character threads but it certainly is an entertaining read.
Barring the sporadic confusion in transition and hurried ending to try and tie up loose ends, the book itself is an interesting read that takes one through a journey of vivid scenery and intricate details of the lives of the characters. It might not be the most satisfying completion to the character threads but it certainly is an entertaining read.
August 6, 2017
Enjoyable read of the engrossing family saga type, but there was no real conclusion to any of the romantic or personal threads, making it somewhat frustrating.
March 7, 2019
The history of three couples during the Boer War in South Africa.
October 9, 2023
Quite old fashioned now but history was interesting
July 31, 2024
Struggled reading this, found it very heavy going.
December 15, 2011
The Steps of the Sun is quite a page turner up until the end of Part Three (the end of the Boer War). Once the war is over, the book languishes on its way to wrapping up all the different threads of the story. The novel looks at both sides of the Boer War from the point of view of a variety of family members who happen to be on both sides of the war. Trollope's witty prose makes for a fast read but she includes enough interesting details to make the history come to life and to flesh out her characters. There are times though that she bounces so quickly from character to character and location to location to make the transitions confusing.
April 30, 2016
I found this, as I do with most of Joanna Trollope/Caroline Harvey's books, most engaging. All I would add is that there was no satisfaction of any of her usually well crafted relationship threads coming to a satisfactory conclusion and I did wonder if that was because she anticipated writing a sequel. If that is the case, I feel somewhat cheated by authors that don't tell the reader that there is a sequel to follow. The prequel inevitably ends unsatisfactorily and I felt this did. On the plus side, this author obviously researches her subject well and I learned a great deal about the Boer Wars of which I knew nothing at all, to my chagrin.
February 2, 2016
Ok. I liked this book but found it dragged on in places at times. What I liked about it most was its descriptive ability. The settings were fantastically described and I was at every place the story took me. Anytime I read historical fiction I always learn new things, so that was another plus. All in all, a nice read.
November 21, 2016
With the background of the Boer war, its many characters it was a great book. With light but deft touch Joanna Trollope brings to life an extraordinary time in the British history, the turn of a century and of a culture besides.
January 26, 2019
Funny how Joanna Trollope's books are so much more engrossing, & have such deeper plots, when she's wearing her Caroline Harvey hat - how does she do that?
This was excellent
This was excellent
August 15, 2011
Pleasant read about two young British men and their experiences of the Boer War. Light romance, light warfare, light moralizing. Very enjoyable all around.
April 22, 2012
I only made it 1/3 of the way through this book, then gave up. I couldn't get into the characters, the style or the story. It felt superficial and I've moved onto greener pastures.
May 14, 2012
Enjoyed it but got a bit bored after the middle...but perhaps that is because we had Boer War history ad infinitum during my school years....
March 22, 2013
Interesting because it was about the BOer war and I didn't know that much about it - just a nice story
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews