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Rough Diamonds
An exciting adventure story set in South Africa in the mid-nineteenth century at the time of the discovery of diamonds… Why are the white invaders ‘gathering like ants in a rainstorm’ seeking little white stones ‘that cannot be eaten and cannot have children?’ Mpande, King of the Zulus, sends tribesman Mapitha and two companions to the Kimberley diamond diggings to find out. After three years, many adventures and clashes with the invaders, particularly Fritz Koekemoer, the original discoverer of the diamond field, Mapitha returns alone to the Zulu heartland. There he finds the new King Cetshwayo, in conflict with Sir Theophilus Shepstone, self-styled ‘White Father of the Zulu people’ conspiring to take over the independent Zulu nation with the help of the British army. Rough Diamonds is a great read. It is full of interesting characters and crazy adventures. If only I had history lessons like that at school...Amazon reader.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2012
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August 19, 2021
This is an excellent work of historical fiction. Most of the historical fiction I've read that is set in Africa is from the colonial perspective in the 1800's (written by British authors from that time period). This book is different and is much better! It tells the story of the end of the once-powerful Zulu nation at the hands of the British.
In this fairly short novel, the author shares parts of the story of the Boers, the British, the Zulus, the missionaries, and the colonists that were not always totally aligned with any of these groups. He also explains the effects of the discovery of the diamond fields on local people and how the diamonds pulled in more and more settlers from far away places.
From reading this book, I got a better understanding of the history of South Africa than I have ever had before. However, as much as I like the story, the best part of the book for me was the "About the Author" section that comes at the very end of the book. This author, Guy Hallowes, is actually the descendent of one of the major characters in the story. Yes, the book is fiction, but the facts are well-researched and the personal connection just makes it that much better!
I highly recommend this book.
In this fairly short novel, the author shares parts of the story of the Boers, the British, the Zulus, the missionaries, and the colonists that were not always totally aligned with any of these groups. He also explains the effects of the discovery of the diamond fields on local people and how the diamonds pulled in more and more settlers from far away places.
From reading this book, I got a better understanding of the history of South Africa than I have ever had before. However, as much as I like the story, the best part of the book for me was the "About the Author" section that comes at the very end of the book. This author, Guy Hallowes, is actually the descendent of one of the major characters in the story. Yes, the book is fiction, but the facts are well-researched and the personal connection just makes it that much better!
I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review