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Retallick Saga #4
Singing Spears
Daniel, the son of Josh and Miriam Retallick, has grown to manhood. He settles with his wife and children on a homestead in the valley of Matabeleland. But it's South Africa in the 1880s, and the Matabele impis are advancing, with their singing spears, toward the guns of the white man. Daniel Retallick's loyalties and dreams are about to be swept by fate into the whirlpool of history.
444 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
11 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
E.V. Thompson
66 books40 followersaka 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 4, 2019
Not as good as the other 3 books in the series. I have read 1,2 and 3 and enjoyed the Cornish theme but this seems to of got stuck now in the African saga too much. I’ve still got book 5 to go as yet so may get worse but still I enjoy reading about Daniel rettalick.
September 30, 2014
I really liked this, the fourth book in the series.
This part of the Retallick series remains in South Africa. It covers the continuing life of Daniel, the son of Josh & Miriam Retallick.
They have returned to Cornwall (How and why needs to remain a mystery to avoid giving a spoiler to the previous book in this series)!
The story opens in 1868, Daniel is now married and has settled in the Insimo Valley, in Matabeleland. The descriptions of the landscape and the lives of the native peoples of the region are superb.
The narrative develops the complex history of the interaction between these native groups and the incoming European settlers.
The book has two valuable maps which help with the constant movements of the action within the story. I found these invaluable, they also helped me to relate to the modern day map of the region.
The book is split into two parts: The first covers the rivalry between the English, Portuguese and Boers in relation to the different tribal groups.
Book Two, picks up in 1871-1887. By this time Daniel and Elvira have four sons Wyatt, Nathan, Adam and Benjamin. This part of the book develops the story of Cecil Rhodes, who was already a wealthy mining magnate. His manoeuvrings to promote the British interests over the other European settlers provides the mainstay of the story. All of these groups were trying to secure exclusivity of mining rights over the indigenous peoples.
I found myself leaving the book to read up on the history of this part of South Africa. For me this is a real strength of this novel, it has such close links to real historical events.
The book ends in the 1890's when the posturing of these groups is coming to a head, without risking a spoiler, that is how I must leave it.
I look forward to finding a copy of the fifth book: The Stricken Land
This part of the Retallick series remains in South Africa. It covers the continuing life of Daniel, the son of Josh & Miriam Retallick.
They have returned to Cornwall (How and why needs to remain a mystery to avoid giving a spoiler to the previous book in this series)!
The story opens in 1868, Daniel is now married and has settled in the Insimo Valley, in Matabeleland. The descriptions of the landscape and the lives of the native peoples of the region are superb.
The narrative develops the complex history of the interaction between these native groups and the incoming European settlers.
The book has two valuable maps which help with the constant movements of the action within the story. I found these invaluable, they also helped me to relate to the modern day map of the region.
The book is split into two parts: The first covers the rivalry between the English, Portuguese and Boers in relation to the different tribal groups.
Book Two, picks up in 1871-1887. By this time Daniel and Elvira have four sons Wyatt, Nathan, Adam and Benjamin. This part of the book develops the story of Cecil Rhodes, who was already a wealthy mining magnate. His manoeuvrings to promote the British interests over the other European settlers provides the mainstay of the story. All of these groups were trying to secure exclusivity of mining rights over the indigenous peoples.
I found myself leaving the book to read up on the history of this part of South Africa. For me this is a real strength of this novel, it has such close links to real historical events.
The book ends in the 1890's when the posturing of these groups is coming to a head, without risking a spoiler, that is how I must leave it.
I look forward to finding a copy of the fifth book: The Stricken Land
July 6, 2015
I was reading my way through the Retallick saga but I'm afraid after this one I shall stop. Really struggled to get into this one, I got bogged down in the plot and couldn't get out!
January 7, 2025
This book truly deserves more recognition. The descriptive way it is written blows me away. While the settings are described perfectly, the historical context and information is blended in an action-packed way that few novels achieve. I got an old copy of this book while visiting a "hidden" bookstore that sold novels for great prices. I honestly didn't think much and I never truly got around to reading it until lately. This has got to be one of my favorite books now. If you love literature that teaches you about tribes/African life or historical time periods (while dense, the novel refuses to make it a giant history lesson that will bore you to death), this book is for you! Highly recommend reading this underrated book.
Edit: The ending was not emotional or drawn out, and the deaths in this book feel more factual than heart-breaking.
Edit: The ending was not emotional or drawn out, and the deaths in this book feel more factual than heart-breaking.
July 27, 2011
I just can't wait to read the rest of the saga. Loved this one too.
September 23, 2014
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12918184
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12918184
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August 27, 2017Harsh brutal but very accurate I have ordered three more in the rettalick saga I knew little of African history even though I lived there. Excellent
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews