Equatoria

by Tom Dreyer, Michiel Heyns (Translator)

Based on a real expedition by two American naturalists in the early 1900s, this novel starts out as a gung-ho African adventure story and becomes a stark portrait of misguided plans and colonial corruption. Willis Reed, a zoologist, and Guy Nichols, an entomologist, are commissioned by the Antwerp Zoo to bring back the first live specimen of an okapi, a shy, forest-dwelling creature that had taken on an almost mythical status after first being described by Sir Harry Johnston in 1902. Setting off into the jungles of central Africa, the men are confident about their mission to further scientific knowledge, but their idealism is eroded by encounters with Belgian colonial officials, fanatical rubber farmers, local tribes, and their own isolation.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Tom Dreyer is the author of the novels Erdvarkfontein, Stinkafrikaners and Equatoria, as well as short stories and poetry. Stinkafrikaners was awarded the Eugène Marais Prize in 2001. Tom holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Cape Town and is a fellow of the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program.

His fourth novel, The Long Wave, appeared at Penguin Random House in 2016. It was longlisted for the Sunday Times Literary Prize, while the Afrikaans version, Dorado, was shortlisted for the University of Johannesburg Prize as well as the KykNet/Rapport Film Prize.

Tom Dreyer is die skrywer van die romans Erdvarkfontein, Stinkafrikaners en Equatoria asook kortverhale en poësie. Stinkafrikaners is in 2001 met die Eugène Maraisprys bekroon. Tom het ’n meestersgraad in Skeppende Skryfwerk aan die Universiteit van Kaapstad verwerf en is ’n alumnus van die Universiteit van Iowa se International Writing Program.

Sy vierde roman, Dorado, het in 2016 by Penguin Random House verskyn. Die Engelse weergawe (The Long Wave) is gelanglys vir die Sunday Times-Prys, terwyl die Afrikaanse weergawe is gekortlys vir UJ-Prys sowel as die KykNet/Rapport-fliekprys.

Reviews

[Coenraad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the English translation, but the Afrikaans original. It is an excellent novel - all the details, symbolism, motifs, etc are carefully woven into a rich tapestry of post-colonial writing. The link between the elusive unicorn and the very real yet equally elusive okapi is moving and poignant. The main character is an observer, which brings a certain stillness and depth to the novel. Very highly recommended.

[Dona van Eeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly all my favourite topics in one book

[Ruschka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teen die einde van hierdie boek had ek meer vrae as antwoorde.