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Upturned Earth
Upturned Earth is set in Namaqualand, the copper mining district of the Cape Colony, during the winter of 1886.
William Hull arrives at the town to take up the position of magistrate, a position that no one else wanted to accept because of the bleak and depressing locale. He finds that the town is run by the Cape Copper Mining Company and the despotic mine superintendent, Townsend. Meanwhile, Molefi Noki, a Xhosa mining labourer, is intent on finding his brother who was sent to jail for drunkenness and has yet to be released.
Set against the background of a diverse community, made up of white immigrants, indigenous people and descendants of Dutch men and native women, we are given insight into the daily life of a mining town and the exploitation of workers, harsh working conditions and deep-seated corruption that began with the start of commercial mining in South Africa in the 1850s and which continue until now.
While Upturned Earth is a novel about the past, its concerns are very much founded in the present.
William Hull arrives at the town to take up the position of magistrate, a position that no one else wanted to accept because of the bleak and depressing locale. He finds that the town is run by the Cape Copper Mining Company and the despotic mine superintendent, Townsend. Meanwhile, Molefi Noki, a Xhosa mining labourer, is intent on finding his brother who was sent to jail for drunkenness and has yet to be released.
Set against the background of a diverse community, made up of white immigrants, indigenous people and descendants of Dutch men and native women, we are given insight into the daily life of a mining town and the exploitation of workers, harsh working conditions and deep-seated corruption that began with the start of commercial mining in South Africa in the 1850s and which continue until now.
While Upturned Earth is a novel about the past, its concerns are very much founded in the present.
- GenresHistorical FictionAfrica
202 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2019
About the author
Karen Jennings
39 books145 followersKaren Jennings is a South African writer based in Cape Town. She works in the History Department at the University of Stellenbosch, and particularly on the “Biography of an Uncharted People” project. Her debut American novel, An Island, was longlisted for the Booker Prize.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 14, 2021
This story is set in the copper mining district of the Cape Colony in the Namaqualand, South Africa in 1886. I knew nothing about the mining communities in South Africa so was really eager to learn something completely new.
There are two narratives throughout the book. The first is that of William Hull who arrives at the town to become the new magistrate. The town, he soon notices, seems to be run by the Cape Copper Mining Company. The other viewpoint is that of native Noki, who works in the mines and is desperate to find his brother who he believes has been unfairly imprisoned.
It’s set among a backdrop of diverse people - Dutch immigrants, natives and whites. The conditions in the mine are horrendous and life is hard for all the workers forced to toil for copper. The author beautifully describes the horrors of living in Namaqualand and the reality of the time is brutal. The scenic descriptions are rich and evocative and references to local flora, fauna and wildlife are interesting and informative.
As a reader you’re hooked from the very beginning and I found I got completely immersed in the story and lives of Hull and Noki. It’s a relatively short book, so I raced through it quickly, but the combined descriptions of the harsh reality of living in a mining village at that time, its wild and beautiful landscape and the unfairness of the contrast between white and native workers makes this a heartbreaking story I won’t forget.
There are two narratives throughout the book. The first is that of William Hull who arrives at the town to become the new magistrate. The town, he soon notices, seems to be run by the Cape Copper Mining Company. The other viewpoint is that of native Noki, who works in the mines and is desperate to find his brother who he believes has been unfairly imprisoned.
It’s set among a backdrop of diverse people - Dutch immigrants, natives and whites. The conditions in the mine are horrendous and life is hard for all the workers forced to toil for copper. The author beautifully describes the horrors of living in Namaqualand and the reality of the time is brutal. The scenic descriptions are rich and evocative and references to local flora, fauna and wildlife are interesting and informative.
As a reader you’re hooked from the very beginning and I found I got completely immersed in the story and lives of Hull and Noki. It’s a relatively short book, so I raced through it quickly, but the combined descriptions of the harsh reality of living in a mining village at that time, its wild and beautiful landscape and the unfairness of the contrast between white and native workers makes this a heartbreaking story I won’t forget.
March 14, 2020
Thanks to Bernadette, from Holland Park Press, for providing me an ARC copy of this novel, which I freely chose to review.
I’m sorry it took me so long to get to read this novel, because it’s a must-read. Perhaps it’s because I’ve lived in old mining communities in the UK, but I’ve always been interested in the mining industry, or rather, in the conditions of the workers throughout history, but I am no scholar and have no knowledge of the South African mining communities. Let me tell you that this book was an eye opener. Although in her notes the author explains that the specific events represented in the book are fictional, she notes that the towns and the mining companies (in this case copper mines) existed, and that she got her inspiration for one of the main characters in the novel, magistrate Hull, from magistrate William Charles Scully (a famous South African author and pioneer), and some of the most horrific details in the novel are true. And although the novel is historical fiction, some of the events are reminiscent of much more recent events (like the Marikana Massacre in 2012).
I had never read any books by Karen Jennings before, although she’s received awards and she has a number of publications: novels, short-stories, and poetry books, to her name. I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.
The plot follows two characters that are as different as they could be: one an educated white man, newly arrived to take a position of authority and responsibility (or so he thinks), Magistrate Hull; and the other, Noki, a Xhosa mining labourer, who can only find work far away from home and in inhuman conditions, and who has no illusions about the way things really are. The two men meet and get to collaborate in horrific circumstances, and life for either of them can never be the same again. The action is set in 1886, and the author manages to recreate the atmosphere of the place and the era very effectively without spending too much time in long-drawn descriptions, although due to Hull’s interest in the natural world, we get to hear about the flora and the fauna of the area. We also witness rituals and customs of the place, which greatly aid in familiarising readers with the historical period and the setting.
The book sets up well the social order, with the wealthy whites (especially those well-to-do, like the supervisor of the mine, or professionals like the doctor) at the very top, and the natives working at the mines at the very bottom. The power of the mining companies over the lives (and deaths) of their employees and of the whole town becomes evident as we read the book, and behind the veneer of civilisation and good manners, hide very dark secrets. Corruption is rampant, and nothing is allowed to get in the way of the business at hand. The novel shows the harsh lives of the natives (who must find work elsewhere as they cannot live of the land) and contrasts it to that of Hull, who does not have to lift a finger (he literally doesn’t even have to bathe himself, as somebody does it for him). Although he changes during the novel, it illustrates how such situations could have taken place, and the complacency and willingness of the population to look the other way.
Hull does not start as a particularly likeable character. He is an inefficient worker, sent to the Cape region because nobody else would go, and he is weak-willed and doesn’t question the status quo. He is like a child (there is a fantastic scene where he and a young boy end up all dirty after trying to dig for frogs in the soil, and all this is taking place while the mine has collapsed and there is a rescue operation going on), and he is only shocked into action when he is confronted with the truth head-on. He is not an evil man, though, only indolent, self-centred and accommodating, and he has a heart (and falls in love with a woman many wouldn’t look at), but he eventually does the right thing and becomes something of a crusader, even though neither side seems to understand or appreciate what he is trying to do. I grew to like Hull, despite his faults and weaknesses, and the author creates a realistic portrayal of a man who is no hero but in the end decides to do the right thing. Noki is a man who lives day to day, who loves his family and his friends, and who simply wants to be able to make a living as a farmer in his village, but that is not possible. He ends up in an impossible situation and does his best to protect himself and others. Although one hopes things work out well for him, the ending only suggests more of the same to come. There are many other characters, some more memorable than others, some chilling and terrifying, and some, like Mrs McBride, trapped in circumstances beyond their control, who have little option but to cope with the situation as best they can.
The novel is told in the third person from the alternating points of view of Noki and Hull, but I must warn readers that there are pretty harsh and explicit scenes of violence, sickness, and true horror in the book. This is a short novel, but it does not pack any punches, and after initial scenes of apparent calm and quiet (although warning signs clearly on display), things deteriorate quickly and we get to see what’s hiding behind the appearances. The pace of the novel is not frantic, and there are contemplative moments, mixed with some frenzied action scenes towards the end. Jennings’ background as a poet becomes evident in many passages of the novel. Here, for example, she is talking about a miner who is very ill but determined to go to work; otherwise they’ll take somebody else in his place:
His face hardened against the pain. He seemed another being then. Ceased to be a man, became instead a moving shape of rock and metal, as though the very ground had risen up around him and was now propelling him forward in the direction of the mine.
Another sample of the writing:
What sort of life is it living underground so that we can be paid less than nothing, where we beg to be allowed to come home once-twice a year to see our family? Never sleeping enough, never eating enough, fighting over the torn shirt that a white man has thrown away.
In sum, this is a novel about important subjects (the past (and not so past) history of the mining industry in South Africa, social justice, corruption, beautifully written but horrifying at the same time. I recommend it to people interested in discovering new voices, in stories about unusual subject, especially those set in South Africa, and, in general to anybody eager to read an interesting, but harsh, and well-written historical novel.
I’m sorry it took me so long to get to read this novel, because it’s a must-read. Perhaps it’s because I’ve lived in old mining communities in the UK, but I’ve always been interested in the mining industry, or rather, in the conditions of the workers throughout history, but I am no scholar and have no knowledge of the South African mining communities. Let me tell you that this book was an eye opener. Although in her notes the author explains that the specific events represented in the book are fictional, she notes that the towns and the mining companies (in this case copper mines) existed, and that she got her inspiration for one of the main characters in the novel, magistrate Hull, from magistrate William Charles Scully (a famous South African author and pioneer), and some of the most horrific details in the novel are true. And although the novel is historical fiction, some of the events are reminiscent of much more recent events (like the Marikana Massacre in 2012).
I had never read any books by Karen Jennings before, although she’s received awards and she has a number of publications: novels, short-stories, and poetry books, to her name. I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.
The plot follows two characters that are as different as they could be: one an educated white man, newly arrived to take a position of authority and responsibility (or so he thinks), Magistrate Hull; and the other, Noki, a Xhosa mining labourer, who can only find work far away from home and in inhuman conditions, and who has no illusions about the way things really are. The two men meet and get to collaborate in horrific circumstances, and life for either of them can never be the same again. The action is set in 1886, and the author manages to recreate the atmosphere of the place and the era very effectively without spending too much time in long-drawn descriptions, although due to Hull’s interest in the natural world, we get to hear about the flora and the fauna of the area. We also witness rituals and customs of the place, which greatly aid in familiarising readers with the historical period and the setting.
The book sets up well the social order, with the wealthy whites (especially those well-to-do, like the supervisor of the mine, or professionals like the doctor) at the very top, and the natives working at the mines at the very bottom. The power of the mining companies over the lives (and deaths) of their employees and of the whole town becomes evident as we read the book, and behind the veneer of civilisation and good manners, hide very dark secrets. Corruption is rampant, and nothing is allowed to get in the way of the business at hand. The novel shows the harsh lives of the natives (who must find work elsewhere as they cannot live of the land) and contrasts it to that of Hull, who does not have to lift a finger (he literally doesn’t even have to bathe himself, as somebody does it for him). Although he changes during the novel, it illustrates how such situations could have taken place, and the complacency and willingness of the population to look the other way.
Hull does not start as a particularly likeable character. He is an inefficient worker, sent to the Cape region because nobody else would go, and he is weak-willed and doesn’t question the status quo. He is like a child (there is a fantastic scene where he and a young boy end up all dirty after trying to dig for frogs in the soil, and all this is taking place while the mine has collapsed and there is a rescue operation going on), and he is only shocked into action when he is confronted with the truth head-on. He is not an evil man, though, only indolent, self-centred and accommodating, and he has a heart (and falls in love with a woman many wouldn’t look at), but he eventually does the right thing and becomes something of a crusader, even though neither side seems to understand or appreciate what he is trying to do. I grew to like Hull, despite his faults and weaknesses, and the author creates a realistic portrayal of a man who is no hero but in the end decides to do the right thing. Noki is a man who lives day to day, who loves his family and his friends, and who simply wants to be able to make a living as a farmer in his village, but that is not possible. He ends up in an impossible situation and does his best to protect himself and others. Although one hopes things work out well for him, the ending only suggests more of the same to come. There are many other characters, some more memorable than others, some chilling and terrifying, and some, like Mrs McBride, trapped in circumstances beyond their control, who have little option but to cope with the situation as best they can.
The novel is told in the third person from the alternating points of view of Noki and Hull, but I must warn readers that there are pretty harsh and explicit scenes of violence, sickness, and true horror in the book. This is a short novel, but it does not pack any punches, and after initial scenes of apparent calm and quiet (although warning signs clearly on display), things deteriorate quickly and we get to see what’s hiding behind the appearances. The pace of the novel is not frantic, and there are contemplative moments, mixed with some frenzied action scenes towards the end. Jennings’ background as a poet becomes evident in many passages of the novel. Here, for example, she is talking about a miner who is very ill but determined to go to work; otherwise they’ll take somebody else in his place:
His face hardened against the pain. He seemed another being then. Ceased to be a man, became instead a moving shape of rock and metal, as though the very ground had risen up around him and was now propelling him forward in the direction of the mine.
Another sample of the writing:
What sort of life is it living underground so that we can be paid less than nothing, where we beg to be allowed to come home once-twice a year to see our family? Never sleeping enough, never eating enough, fighting over the torn shirt that a white man has thrown away.
In sum, this is a novel about important subjects (the past (and not so past) history of the mining industry in South Africa, social justice, corruption, beautifully written but horrifying at the same time. I recommend it to people interested in discovering new voices, in stories about unusual subject, especially those set in South Africa, and, in general to anybody eager to read an interesting, but harsh, and well-written historical novel.
August 27, 2020
Set in 1886 in Namaqualand, the copper mining district of the Cape Colony, Upturned Earth opens with the arrival of William Hull, who is due to take over as magistrate. He soon finds out that his is a job no one else wanted: it is a thankless task, beset by the difficulty of working in a town which is unofficially run by the Cape Copper Mining Company. At the head of the CCMC in Okiep is superintendent Townsend, whose grip on the town borders on tyrannical. Jennings very cleverly sets up the opening of her novel so that it has all the hallmarks of a nineteenth century adventure tale: the arrival of the white man in a strange land, an overload of sensory details to build up a picture of the exotic location, and formal dialogue that harks back to an earlier time. She then proceeds to brilliantly subvert these tropes in the story that follows.
Hull's third person narrative is interspersed with that of a second protagonist, the Xhosa mining labourer Molefi Noki, who at the start of the novel is travelling back to the mine after his first visit home for five years. The difficulties he faces are juxtaposed with the minor inconveniences of Hull's 'settling in period' - not only has Noki just lost yet another child, he is also seeking information about his brother, a fellow mine worker, who has been jailed for drunken behaviour and not heard of since. Through her use of these two protagonists, Jennings is able to explore the diverse inhabitants of the town, creating a portrait of life under brutal circumstances for those doing the labouring, and touches of luxury for those at the top.
Though Noki is the more sympathetic of the two characters, I appreciated the fact that both were complex men, not on the same side by any means, but not diametrically opposed. Hull is impulsive, almost childishly stubborn, and at times quite unlikeable, despite his desire to do the right thing. I felt this was a strength of the novel: he is both admirable and also sometimes quite wrong in his judgements and assessments of character. I would have liked a bit more of his internal thoughts, in order to better understand him, and I could easily have spent more time inside both Hull's and Noki's heads. (However, I think that wishing a novel was longer is a good sign.) There are different registers at play in the book, which worked very well for me, and flashes of brilliance in Jennings' prose which definitely make me want to read more from this author.
Upturned Earth is a novel with the power to shock: just when you might relax into what seems at times like a conventional historical novel, the plot takes several violent turns. I don't want to spoil the story here, but I have to applaud Jennings for her deft balancing of so many strands: from a ghoulish, almost gothic-horror subplot involving the jailer, to two catastrophic events that both have relevance for contemporary times. This is a historical novel which cannot be confined to the past. The title could not be more apt, for here we have history excavated, shaken up, the truth of the violence which continues to this day brought to light. Written partly in response to the Marikana Massacre of 2012, the book reminds us, as the author states in her notes, of "the exploitation, conditions and corruption that began in the 1850s and continue to the present." The characters' mentions of mining communities in other parts of the world open it up further as a global issue, and the ambiguity of the book's ending reminds us that this is not a finished story by any means.
Hull's third person narrative is interspersed with that of a second protagonist, the Xhosa mining labourer Molefi Noki, who at the start of the novel is travelling back to the mine after his first visit home for five years. The difficulties he faces are juxtaposed with the minor inconveniences of Hull's 'settling in period' - not only has Noki just lost yet another child, he is also seeking information about his brother, a fellow mine worker, who has been jailed for drunken behaviour and not heard of since. Through her use of these two protagonists, Jennings is able to explore the diverse inhabitants of the town, creating a portrait of life under brutal circumstances for those doing the labouring, and touches of luxury for those at the top.
Though Noki is the more sympathetic of the two characters, I appreciated the fact that both were complex men, not on the same side by any means, but not diametrically opposed. Hull is impulsive, almost childishly stubborn, and at times quite unlikeable, despite his desire to do the right thing. I felt this was a strength of the novel: he is both admirable and also sometimes quite wrong in his judgements and assessments of character. I would have liked a bit more of his internal thoughts, in order to better understand him, and I could easily have spent more time inside both Hull's and Noki's heads. (However, I think that wishing a novel was longer is a good sign.) There are different registers at play in the book, which worked very well for me, and flashes of brilliance in Jennings' prose which definitely make me want to read more from this author.
Upturned Earth is a novel with the power to shock: just when you might relax into what seems at times like a conventional historical novel, the plot takes several violent turns. I don't want to spoil the story here, but I have to applaud Jennings for her deft balancing of so many strands: from a ghoulish, almost gothic-horror subplot involving the jailer, to two catastrophic events that both have relevance for contemporary times. This is a historical novel which cannot be confined to the past. The title could not be more apt, for here we have history excavated, shaken up, the truth of the violence which continues to this day brought to light. Written partly in response to the Marikana Massacre of 2012, the book reminds us, as the author states in her notes, of "the exploitation, conditions and corruption that began in the 1850s and continue to the present." The characters' mentions of mining communities in other parts of the world open it up further as a global issue, and the ambiguity of the book's ending reminds us that this is not a finished story by any means.
March 26, 2021
What a story! Richly detailed, this is one which kept me hooked from beginning to end.
William Hull is a find upstanding man of principle as befits a newly appointed Magistrate to Namaqualand, a remote mining community. He soon finds out why no one else wanted to take up the position; the area is bleak and depressing and very much in the grip of the mining company and their Superintendent, Townsend. The workers are made up of a very mixed and diverse group and one of the labourers, Molefi Noki is eager to gain information on his brother, jailed for drunkenness and still not released. As the story progresses, we are privy to the deprivations and ill treatment meted out in the name of 'the company'.
This is a harrowing tale on many levels; it shows the disparity between the treatment of white workers and others and clearly demonstrates the pressing need for the ordinary man to rise up and work together for change - although that is not something covered in this book. The conditions endured by mine workers is shocking in the extreme and William Hull has no idea what he has let himself in for. Captivating and packed with interesting details, this novel is complex and involved and, ultimately, a rewarding read. This is a part of history that I knew nothing about but I relished discovering, even though it doesn't always make for easy reading. Well-planned and splendidly written, I really enjoyed everything about it so I'm happy to recommend this one - especially to lovers of more gritty historical fiction - and give it 4.5*.
William Hull is a find upstanding man of principle as befits a newly appointed Magistrate to Namaqualand, a remote mining community. He soon finds out why no one else wanted to take up the position; the area is bleak and depressing and very much in the grip of the mining company and their Superintendent, Townsend. The workers are made up of a very mixed and diverse group and one of the labourers, Molefi Noki is eager to gain information on his brother, jailed for drunkenness and still not released. As the story progresses, we are privy to the deprivations and ill treatment meted out in the name of 'the company'.
This is a harrowing tale on many levels; it shows the disparity between the treatment of white workers and others and clearly demonstrates the pressing need for the ordinary man to rise up and work together for change - although that is not something covered in this book. The conditions endured by mine workers is shocking in the extreme and William Hull has no idea what he has let himself in for. Captivating and packed with interesting details, this novel is complex and involved and, ultimately, a rewarding read. This is a part of history that I knew nothing about but I relished discovering, even though it doesn't always make for easy reading. Well-planned and splendidly written, I really enjoyed everything about it so I'm happy to recommend this one - especially to lovers of more gritty historical fiction - and give it 4.5*.
October 13, 2021
After enjoyed "An Island" by the same author, Bernadette at Holland Park Press recommended me to read this title as well.
It is an insightful, atmospheric novel. As I'm not familiar with the history of mining in South Africa, the story gets me thinking and imagining each character and the scenery around them. Even though the novel takes place in 1886, it also makes me think about the recent situation, such as Marikana Massacre in 2012 (which I also learned through this book).
It is an insightful, atmospheric novel. As I'm not familiar with the history of mining in South Africa, the story gets me thinking and imagining each character and the scenery around them. Even though the novel takes place in 1886, it also makes me think about the recent situation, such as Marikana Massacre in 2012 (which I also learned through this book).
September 3, 2020
Upturned earth is set in 1886 in Namaqualand, the copper mining district of what was then Cape Colony. It’s an arid region crossing the South African-Nambian border, with its largest town being Springbok (Springbokfontein at the time of the novel). The novel commences with the arrival by boat from Cape Town of 28-year-old William Hull, who is due to take over as magistrate. On first appearances, Hull seems almost like an antihero:
"Weak-willed, forgetful, Hull was a poor employee. He did as he was told, yet somehow was never able to fulfil the chores of the position with the same success as his colleagues did. He confused cases, misfiled documents, knocked over inkwells".
In fact, it seems that he is more interested in nature, than work. “He carried,” we’re told, “the droppings of animals folded in handkerchiefs, kept pink newborns warm in his hat”. However, on realising he had been given the job “because no other man would take it”, he resolves to “be firm. Punishments would be meted out. The law would be laid down.” For my full review, please check: https://whisperinggums.com/2020/09/03...
"Weak-willed, forgetful, Hull was a poor employee. He did as he was told, yet somehow was never able to fulfil the chores of the position with the same success as his colleagues did. He confused cases, misfiled documents, knocked over inkwells".
In fact, it seems that he is more interested in nature, than work. “He carried,” we’re told, “the droppings of animals folded in handkerchiefs, kept pink newborns warm in his hat”. However, on realising he had been given the job “because no other man would take it”, he resolves to “be firm. Punishments would be meted out. The law would be laid down.” For my full review, please check: https://whisperinggums.com/2020/09/03...
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November 8, 2019~Six days he had suffered this sickness, or perhaps five. He did not know. He longed for land and the steady earth beneath his feet. Dirt or rock or sand. It didn't matter which.~
~Don't be a fool. Out there there is no Queen, only a King, and that King is the Company. You'll do as you're told, boy. Out here all bodies bow to the kind.~
~She had come to the mine one afternoon to ask the man for money, whispering to him as she drew him aside that their children were starving while he spent all his earnings in the pub. He had denied her request without words, answering instead with a fist to her jaw.~
~My father does not easily tire of watching his guests enjoying themselves. Even if their enjoyment has long since ceased.~
~With one hand he takes out money. The other is raised to the sky in praise of his god.~
~No man can survive a mining town without being corrupted and weakened by it. All feelings for his fellow man is lost. He is scarcely human any longer.~
~Don't be a fool. Out there there is no Queen, only a King, and that King is the Company. You'll do as you're told, boy. Out here all bodies bow to the kind.~
~She had come to the mine one afternoon to ask the man for money, whispering to him as she drew him aside that their children were starving while he spent all his earnings in the pub. He had denied her request without words, answering instead with a fist to her jaw.~
~My father does not easily tire of watching his guests enjoying themselves. Even if their enjoyment has long since ceased.~
~With one hand he takes out money. The other is raised to the sky in praise of his god.~
~No man can survive a mining town without being corrupted and weakened by it. All feelings for his fellow man is lost. He is scarcely human any longer.~
May 6, 2020
A story of putting profit before people in copper mining in South Africa in the 1850s with echoes of our current times.
Full review: https://annegoodwin.weebly.com/1/post...
Full review: https://annegoodwin.weebly.com/1/post...
November 11, 2020
My review of this book should be published by the Sunday Times soon, but just to say that this was a beautifully written book and is well worth reading.
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January 14, 2023Crooked Seeds
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews