Summer Harvest

by Madge Swindells

Set between 1938 and 1968 in a land where gruelling poverty rubs shoulders with remarkable opulence, and moving from the Cape to London and the West Coast of America, Summer Harvest is a family saga in the finest tradition.

At the heart of the story is Anna, a woman as strong and passionate as she is ambitious, who fights her way up from near destitution to become one of the Cape’s most prominent and powerful businesswomen.

Simon — a poor farmer when they marry — has too much masculine pride to stand on the sidelines while Anna plunders her way to a success that threatens tragedy and loss.

Genres: Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Ebooks, Romance

470 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

MADGE SWINDELLS was born and educated in England. As a teenager, she emigrated with her parents to South Africa where she studied archaeology and anthropology at Cape Town University. The author of numerous romance novels, her work has been translated into seven languages and has reached bestseller lists across the world.

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is sort of a South African "Gone with the Wind" - A strong woman going from poverty to riches, driven by greed, revenge, and the need to be in control of her life. In the meantime, she misses the joy and love that could be hers for the taking. As the author points out, "to reject joy and love is to reject God." A very thought-provoking story.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

I guess you have to either live in South Africa now or have in the past to not be offended by the social-political acceptance of apartheid. It is a subject that makes me disgusted.

The story is quite good, though. It begins in the mid 1930's. The plot surrounds the racial imbalance and, mostly, the socio-economic barrier in rural South Africa. Basically, an indigent young farmer courting the daughter of a successful and rich farm owner. It there is nothing predictable in this plot. The idea of 'money equals success' is dissected here in a very real way.

I disliked Anna for much of the book and my sympathies lie with Sophie from start to finish. This is an engrossing read in that the decades of hurt, retaliation, secrets and discovery are written with much realism, good and bad. It is a painful family history.

I would recommend to readers of historical fiction.

[Jenni Strader · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad loaned me this book and told me to read it. I trust his judgement but I was a little hesitant. It was small print and many pages. But once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I loved her characters and I truly cared about what happened to all of them. Very engrossing!

[Le Giang · Rating 4 out of 5]

something like gone with the wind

[gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great novel by Madge Swindells

Set in South Africa, this is a story about the lead characters' need, determination and dedication to making money, unfortunately at the expense of family and friends. The plot is very well developed and intriguing and includes an important aspect of apartheid that really impacts the story. The holocaust is also represented. This novel has it all-a good read.

[Being or Notbeing · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's comparable to other love stories around the world in this very particular period time of the early 20th century. It's more existentialism where morality can be easily broken by imputing the blame to someone else. I have a feeling that the harsh human condition in the 20th century and some liberal illusion of education from the Enlightenment is the conditions for the blossom of existentialism, which maintain and advance the depression, division, and deception of people.

[Karen Cogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging saga

This book spanned two generations of a family living in South Africa. It began when Anna was a young girl. She married only to face dissatisfaction. She made money but it didn’t buy her happiness. A long held secret nearby destroyed her, but she does find happiness again. This book was hard to put down.

[ike pauh · Rating 3 out of 5]

dnf. will continue some time later on but I've read a slightly more compact version of this: Master of the Game! Summer Harvest (or probably more like real life dynastic families) must have inspired Master of the Game.

[Mary Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer Harvest

A remarkable story, a tale of love and loss. Anna a strong willed young woman knows what she wants and doesn't let anything stand in her way only to lose it all. Only when this happens does she find real joy in her life.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Sash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very small print but I enjoyed the read. Felt like there were some loose ends but an engrossing book.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells a story about family secrets, life, love, hurt, money and coming to terms with God and deep emotions. It is a gentle book because there is no extreme violence and no cursing. It spans about 20 years and is so well written that it is impossible not to feel the characters pain and joy from their successes and their failures. I enjoyed the descriptions of nature because it takes place in a part of the world I'll probably never visit.

[Cws]

F Swi

[Maneden]

Took forever to get into the book and even then not properly. The storyline was trying in that there was simply too much going on.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! I couldn't put this great book down untill the end of the book.

[Margitte]

Another long-ago-read that I wish to reread. Just adding to my library for now.

I just love this author's books.

[Nancy Yesko · Rating 5 out of 5]

my absolute favorite.

[Monica Komen · Rating 5 out of 5]

so inspiring especially for women who face abusive situations and can do nothing due to their financial state.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

very hard book to put down. I loved it!

[Peggy]

2nd one I read, and I really liked it

[Carobe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solens barn