Praying Mantis

by André Brink

A magical novel from a world class writer about a remarkable historical figure.

In his early years, growing up on a Dutch farm in the deep interior of the southern African Cape, Cupido Cockroach became the greatest drinker, liar, fornicator and fighter of his region. Coming under the spell of the soap-boiler Anna, and under the influence of the great Dr Johannes Theodorus van der Kemp of the London Missionary Society, Cupido is made the first Khoi or ‘Hottentot’ missionary ordained at the Cape of Good Hope.

Received into the fold of the Church, Cupido passionately turns against all his early beliefs. After being drawn into the fierce struggle between the missionaries and the Dutch colonists, he rises to some prominence and is appointed as missionary in a remote and arid region in the North-western Cape. But this also marks the beginning of his decline, as the Society abandons him to his fate. One by one, the members of his congregation disappear into the desert, so that in the end, abandoned even by his wife and children, he is left to preach to the stones and thorn trees and tortoises, returning to the dream-world of his people.

In a heady mixture of comedy and tragedy, the real and the magical, and immersed in the ancient, earthy, African world of magic and dreams, Praying Mantis explores through the historical figure of Cupido Cockroach the origins of racial tension in the shadowlands between myth and history.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Fiction, South Africa, Historical Fiction, Africa, Roman, Literature, Novels

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

André Philippus Brink was a South African novelist. He wrote in Afrikaans and English and was until his retirement a Professor of English Literature at the University of Cape Town.

In the 1960s, he and Breyten Breytenbach were key figures in the Afrikaans literary movement known as Die Sestigers ("The Sixty-ers"). These writers sought to use Afrikaans as a language to speak against the apartheid government, and also to bring into Afrikaans literature the influence of contemporary English and French trends. His novel Kennis van die aand (1973) was the first Afrikaans book to be banned by the South African government.

Brink's early novels were often concerned with the apartheid policy. His final works engaged new issues raised by life in postapartheid South Africa.

Reviews

[Marie Bouteille · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was even better the second time. I loved the mix between an African tale full of stories about the Hottentot pantheon and stories from the Bible, with what must have happened a zillion times with native missionaries

[Gerbrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastisch verhaal dat zich afspeelt in Zuid-Afrika rond 1800. André Brink schrijft in de verantwoording aan het eind van het boek dat het weliswaar fictie is maar dat Kupido Kakkerlak, een Hottentot (of Khoi), echt heeft bestaan. Evenals dominee van der Kemp uit Leiden, broeder James Read en Robert Moffat uit Londen. Brink heeft gebruik kunnen maken van o.a. talloze documenten van en over de London Missionary Society:

“Toch besef je juist door het lezen van een zo goed gedocumenteerd verslag hoezeer het raadsel van andermans leven alleen begrepen kan worden met behulp van de verbeelding (die niet minder betrouwbaar is dan het geheugen).”

Het boek begint bij de bijzondere ‘geboorte’ van Kupido Kakkerlak circa 1760. Het eerste deel eindigt met de bekering van Kupido tot het christelijk geloof. Het tweede deel is broeder James Read aan het woord die terugkijkt op zijn leven met Kupido. In het laatste deel volgen we Kupido tijdens zijn zendingsmissie in Dithakong.

Eigenlijk een heel confronterend boek voor het christelijk geloof. Tijdens het lezen van dit boek zie je hoe absurd die zendingsdrang eigenlijk was (is?). Heitsi-Eibib, Tkaggen of ‘onze’ Here God?

Eigenlijk diep tragisch maar gelukkig zit er voldoende humor en een vleugje magie in dit boek! Tijdens het lezen moest ik denken aan het boek The Poisonwood Bible van Barbara Kingsolver. Ook zo’n geweldig boek over zendingsdrang.

[Margitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een van André P Brink se immer geskiedkundige romans wat sterk steun op die magiese, die bygelowigheid en die mitiese kragte wat nog steeds die botoon voer in die Afrika landskap. Kupido Kakkerlak is so bekend aan ons almal se verwysingsraamwerk. As ons hom nie persoonlik geken het nie, het ons al van sy 'tipe' gehoor. Maar hy is so deel van ons psige soos boerewors en koeksisters.

Volgens bestaande dokumentasie het Kupido tussen 1760 en 1825 geleef het. Die mitiese betree die verhaal wanneer dit bekend word dat hy nie gebore was nie, maar deur 'n arend gebring is. In dieselfde tyd maak die bidsprinkane hulle verskyning en volgens oorlewering het wonderwerke soos optelgoed op die aarde rondgelê.

Die roman verheerlik en verdoem die mites rondom die Boesman wat later as prediker naam sou maak in die Kolonie. Humoristies, tong in die kies maar tog ook diep geskryf. Die verhaal is 'n verryking van die Afrika geskiedenis skat.

“En voor jou uit, hoog bo, lê die blink sterstreep om vir jou pad te wys. Soontoe. Soontoe”

[sisterimapoet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really connect with this one. Maybe I made a mistake jumping from a book about one sort of priest to another. I generally like most books about religion and religious types - no real belief myself, but reading about others belief is usually interesting but occasionally such novels fall flat. 'Gilead' springs to mind as failing in the same way.

Like other Goodreads reviewers I found the novel lost momentum during the large central section about the missionary. The sections focusing on Cupido Cockroach were far more engaging. Overall a shame I didn't like it as I've been impressed by most of my previous encounters with Brink.

[Tiah]

I think I'm turning into a biased Brink fan.

[Errol Orhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kupido Kakkerlak leeft!

[Chris Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the magical narrative relating to the beliefs of the indigenous African people and the story of the protagonist's early life. Part one is superb! However, the second part, told from the point of view of one of the Christian missionaries becomes rather prosaic and plodding, although I learnt more about the history of the period, which was quite interesting. The story and the native belief narrative returns in the final part, but never seems to pick up the original thread as vividly.

[Linda Terblanche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nee, ek gaan hom nou maar neersit.
Lewe is te kort híérvoor.

[Eben Keun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful epic. My first André P Brink book. Which next? Mesmerised by the magical main character Cupido Kakkerlak's ascension to glory and fall from grace. So many incredible subtexts here about colonisation, conquest of nature, the mark of missionaries - the schisms caused in the interconnected world. Highly recommended.

[Babak Fakhamzadeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novelization of the life of Cupido Cockroach, a Khoisan native of South Africa, roughly at the beginning of the 19th century. From something of a heathen, he becomes a Christian missionary himself and ends up in his own station on the outskirts of the country, all but forgotten and completely neglected by the missionary society which sent him there in the first place.

The book is interesting enough for it's context, but I wasn't all that impressed by the way the story is constructed. The first part, with its many surreal events reminded me of the series Carnivale, which does it much better. The second part, which is in the form of a biography of one of the (white) missionary friends of Cupido, feels much too contrived. The third part, which describes Cupido's trials and tribulations at his lonely mission station is the only part of the book which reads well.

The book was written over a period of 20 years, so maybe that's the reason for the varying quality of the book.

[John Erik Lindgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dette er en historisk roman, med handling lagt til Cape-området (i vid forstand) rundt slutten av 1700-tallet/begynnelsen av 1800-tallet. Hovedpersonen er en hottentot ved navn Cupido Cockroach. Han er en person med en viss åndelig kapasitet, som går fra stammereligion til kristendom, og muligens tilbake igjen. Brink skildrer historiske forhold, natur, personer og religiøse anfektelser på overbevisende vis. Språklig er teksten også ytterst patent. Fortellingen er basert på en sann historie, men det er tatt store dikteriske friheter, både for å tette hull, men også for å få historien til å fungere som en roman i Brinks ånd.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man of the world turned missionary then left to fend for himself in a remote part of South Africa in the early part of the 1800's. According to the notes at the end, this is based on historical fact. I struggled with this much more than any other Brink books I've read. When I read the summary teaser on the back cover I thought it sounded really good. Perhaps I read that and interpreted it with my Western mind because it wasn't at all what I expected. Typical of his books, it speaks to race issues, which I picked up on right near the end. For that, I give it 2 stars instead of 1.

[Lisa Carlsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the voice of the main character, Cupido Cockroach, in the beginning of the book... but the tale lost its drive after Cupido converted to Christianity and the story was taken over by a local missionary. Somewhat saved in the last chapters, but not enough. Other books ("At Play in the Fields of the Lord" and "Black Robe") explore the darker shades of bringing Christianity to indigenous groups with far more power.

[Ann Tonks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been a passionate fan of Andre Brink's work for years but this one felt too distant, too difficult to engage with. Whether it's the voice of an indigenous person filtered through the voice of the colonist that makes it hard to grasp or whether it's simply my incapacity to connect in anything but a superficial way, I don't know.

While the history was fascinating, I couldn't "read" the character.

[David Grieve]

An interesting and moving account of a Hottentot who embraces Christianity with startling enthusiasm and becomes a preacher and missionary. There is a constant undercurrent of racism that occasionally breaks to the surface in various disturbing ways. An enjoyable read but not completely convincing in parts.

[withdrawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book on the nature of the missionary calling and its converts. Quiet, subtle humour provides a basis for thinking about the role of religion as it attempts to cross cultures. Finally, it is humanity which wins out as the main character struggles to survive in a harsh environment where beliefs must suit the surroundings.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am the biggest Brink Fan on the planet. He is my favourite author so I am biased with all of his work. Don't expect a balanced review from me. As with all Brinks work the backdrop is apartheid South Africa and the stuggles of white and black alike.

[Nana Fredua-Agyeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat fanatic conversion to Christianity. This man's conversion was total and absolute. Read my review here

http://freduagyeman.blogspot.com/2010...

Thanks

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

moving book about a time and place I wouldn't know much about otherwise. Carefully developed story about an unlikely hero in colonial South Africa.

[Sean de la Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an excellent introduction to Andre Brink. I finished the book in 2 sittings. Smooth flowing prose and a story so beautiful and enticing. Bravo!

[Arie Kok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kupido Kakkerlak is een historische figuur die door André Brink met de nodige verbeelding opnieuw tot leven is gewekt. Kupido is een Khoi, door witten Hottentotten genoemd, de oorspronkelijke bewoners van de Kaapkolonie. Kupido leefde begin negentiende eeuw. Door het werk van witte zendelingen legt hij zijn heidense godsdienst af, en wordt christelijk zendeling. Maar een Khoi blijft hij, ook in de ogen van het zendingsgenootschap. Als hij op een eenzame, verre post wordt gezet, gaat het mis. Hoewel, vindt hij dat zelf ook? Brink heeft er een soms komische, soms pijnlijke, maar altijd vlot leesbare vertelling van gemaakt, die uiteindelijk gaat over de enculturatie van het Evangelie. Een confronterend boek voor witte gelovigen.

[Gabrielle Danoux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une autre façon d'aborder l'apartheid, plus indirecte, ou plus directe, aux racines. La religion est très liée aux considérations de la chair. Victoire finale de l'animisme des femmes noires. La sexualité est omniprésente et les missionnaires sont dévorés par leurs appétits. Importance aussi de l'anglais et l'afrikaans, au point que la traduction française comporte un lexique.
Nous changeons régulièrement de point de vue, pour un roman au final très technique, mais empreint de poésie. À noter ainsi l'originalité des histoires qui contraste avec Une saison blanche et sèche. Cupido est le poète, Anna est la romancière qui nettoie les sources.

[Peter van der Merwe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andre Brink is seen as one of South Africa's great authors. Let's just say that Praying Mantis probably isn't his best work. It has potential, with indigenous spiritual beliefs colliding headlong with fervent missionary Christianity. But after a promising start, it's almost as though Brink loses the thread of the story in the second third of the book, and it takes a final flourish to redeem itself as our main protagonist, the wildly conflicted Cupido Cockroach, seeks solace in what he knows as he loses everything. I'll have to try one of his better works next.

[Piotr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how Brink could write! How these books draw you in! He’s a bit like the god Janus - he has two faces: contemporary and historical. What he writes is truly high-flying prose. I myself - slightly prefer this historical face. Maybe the times were more interesting, maybe the people (the heroes of these stories) were different. But as soon as AB reaches those old times, processes the written accounts, recreates myths and legends, walks around this extraordinary country almost in the footsteps of his ancestors … magic happens. An excellent, fascinating book.

[Toril Johansson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boka som heter Kneleren på norsk tar utgangspunkt i arkivmaterialet om så vel hovedpersonen som er khoikhoi (hottentott) som den første misjonær men slik bakgrunn og nedtegnelser om flere av de andre hvite misjonærene. Ny og gammel tro, kampen mellom hollendere og engelskmenn og ikke minst synet på de svarte som bakteppe. Fascinerende.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story set in SA, 1700s- 1800s funny, beautiful, devastating.

As per the dust jacket, “In a heady mixture of comedy and tragedy, the real and the mystic Praying Mantis explores through the historical figure of Cupido Cockroach the origins of racial tension in the shadowlands between myth and history.”

[Jeanfrance Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andre brink et l une des voix majeur de l Afrique du Sud ce livre poignant met en scène les prémices de l apartheid et c est peu de le dire un homme qui a voué sa vie à l église magnifique roman et témoignage

[Ansie de Swardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baie goed geskryf, lieflike Afrikaans. Baie interessant ook en goed nagevors. Breek nogal die hart.....

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brink has a very vivid imagination. A fascinating story set in another time and place but he struggled to sustain the tale to the very end. Nevertheless, still an enjoyable read .. he always is.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this Book!