This is not a true story; I hope it never becomes one. In the summer of 1956, sixteen-year-old Marguerite Stearle, daughter of a housekeeper, falls in love with the squire of Mirelton’s nephew, Myles Featherstone. A delightful romance ensues, but in a class-conscious society, Myles has no choice but to end the liaison. With few prospects, a wretched Marguerite embarks on a new life in London, hoping her heart will mend. Unexpectedly, Marguerite is introduced to a tobacco farmer from the British colony of Rhodesia. Falling in love yet again, a new future beckons, one full of excitement as well as forbidding dangers. But with foresight is it a destiny Marguerite would be willing to follow knowing how it could all end? And is this new love worth life itself? In what is believed to be Peter Rimmer’s first novel, written in 1961, this tragic story is Peter’s perception and almost prophetic vision he had of what was to become of Britain’s last African colony. If you like historical fiction full of love, passion and sheer determination to win through, then you will love All Our Yesterdays…a story that will keep you in suspense right until the very end.
Peter Rimmer was born in London, England, and grew up in the south of the city where he went to Cranleigh School. After the Second World War and at aged 18, Peter joined the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of Pilot Officer before he was 19. Then at the end of his National Service and with the optimism of youth, he sailed for Africa with his older brother to grow tobacco in what was then Rhodesia, and the odyssey of his life began.
The years went by and Peter found himself in Johannesburg founding an insurance brokering company. Over 2% of the companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange were clients of Rimmer Associates. He opened companies in the United States of America, Australia and Hong Kong and travelled extensively between the branches.
His passion had always been writing books, which he started at a very early age, though running a business was a driving force too and a common thread throughout his books. By the 1990’s, he had written several novels about Africa and England, and his breakthrough came with Cry of the Fish Eagle published by HarperCollins, Zimbabwe. It was a bestseller, which was followed up with the release of Vultures in the Wind. However, during this time, Zimbabwe was going through its struggles and the books did not get their just international recognition.
Having lived a reclusive life on his beloved smallholding in Knysna, South Africa, for over 25 years, Peter passed away in July 2018. He has left an enormous legacy of unpublished work for his family to release over the coming years, and not only them but also his readers from around the world will sorely miss him. Peter Rimmer was 81 years old.
I've read a number of his books, and have enjoyed them all. While I found this book to be a little slow for the first third, the pace picked up and was maintained thereafter. It is amazing how perceptive he was of nature of world events at the time that allowed him to envision future events so accurately.
The Rhodesian war is still very fresh in our memories and that is exactly what happened. Their life is slightly better now but the struggle to farm in what's left is very real. Excellently written. He must have had very good reconteurs to tell this story so well.
Wonderful inciteful novel about the horror situation that actually happened in our lifetime in Rhodesia . This is happening all over the world TODAY ! And we , as the masses , are kept in the dark about the true facts , and drip fed what the politicians want us to know . The world , as we know it , is going to hell .
This is my 3rd read through of all Peter Rimmer’s books about Africa. Well developed characters, powerful story lines, gripping historical fiction! Once you begin, it’s so hard to put them down! I’m an avid reader of many genres, and have been thoroughly engrossed in all of Peter’s books.
Having lived in Africa i found these books truly gripping .. Great reads and bought the sights and sounds of Africa back to me . The terrible horrors that were carried out have been written with honesty and feeling for both African and white settlers