- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Classics; New Ed edition (26 Aug 1982)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140431845
- ISBN-13: 978-0140431841
- Product Dimensions: 13 x 1.9 x 19.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 160,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Story of an African Farm
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More About the Author
Product Description
Paula M. Krebs, Wheaton College
"This excellent edition allows us to read the novel in its important social, political, and literary contexts...an important achievement."
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Two cousins grow up in the 1860s on a lonely farm in the thirsty mountain veld. Em is fat, sweet and contented, a born housewife; Lyndall, clever, restless, beautiful . . . and doomed. Their childhood is disrupted by a bombastic Irishman, Bonaparte Blenkins, who gains uncanny influence over the girls' gross, stupid stepmother . . . This novel is one of the most astonishing, least-expected fiction masterpieces of its time and one that has had an enduring influence.
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First Sentence
The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first heard of this novel when I was studying Vera Brittain's A Testament of Youth at college. In that book she mentions the influence that The Story of an African Farm had on her. It must rank as one of the most boring titles of a book ever and a book that has stayed in obscurity ever since.
I was lucky to see the film version of this story, which only covers Part I of the book. It was given the title, "Bustin' Bonaparte" for American release, which seems to downplay Bonaparte Blenkins essential nastiness.
I have read the book twice. This was necessary because in many ways the book is very hard work to read, like many 19th Century novels. However, it is well worth the effort. Although set in mid-19th Century South Africa, it seems to have a far wider timeless quality. The central character, Lyndall, expresses a feminism which would do Germain Greer proud. Some people have found her preachy but it still gave me food for thought.
This is not the only interesting aspect of the book. Bonaparte Blenkins is one of the most colourful villains I have ever encountered in a book. Lyndall's aunt, Tant Sanny, is equally grotesque with her almost casual racism and deep hyprocricy. The sad thing in the book is that the good characters in the book tend to suffer and the bad ones always seem to do better. I think this gives the book an air of pessimism.
Anyway, I highly recommend anyone to give it a go and don't worry about the boring title.
I was lucky to see the film version of this story, which only covers Part I of the book. It was given the title, "Bustin' Bonaparte" for American release, which seems to downplay Bonaparte Blenkins essential nastiness.
I have read the book twice. This was necessary because in many ways the book is very hard work to read, like many 19th Century novels. However, it is well worth the effort. Although set in mid-19th Century South Africa, it seems to have a far wider timeless quality. The central character, Lyndall, expresses a feminism which would do Germain Greer proud. Some people have found her preachy but it still gave me food for thought.
This is not the only interesting aspect of the book. Bonaparte Blenkins is one of the most colourful villains I have ever encountered in a book. Lyndall's aunt, Tant Sanny, is equally grotesque with her almost casual racism and deep hyprocricy. The sad thing in the book is that the good characters in the book tend to suffer and the bad ones always seem to do better. I think this gives the book an air of pessimism.
Anyway, I highly recommend anyone to give it a go and don't worry about the boring title.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very interesting and important novel for it's time. A young woman who saw things differently than her elders and culture. None the less the writing is problematic and offputting at times even preacherly.
Despite the Title, one hardly touches being in South Africa, as the story revolves around the farm and its inhabitants, abuse, deception and escape from this horrible life are well described. The African inhabitants are hardly mentioned, as they obviously were only there to serve the colonisers. Alas , as important as this novel was in its time, I found it problematic.
Despite the Title, one hardly touches being in South Africa, as the story revolves around the farm and its inhabitants, abuse, deception and escape from this horrible life are well described. The African inhabitants are hardly mentioned, as they obviously were only there to serve the colonisers. Alas , as important as this novel was in its time, I found it problematic.
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Story of an African Farm is an account about a family and how they interact in a South African farm. This is a book that is hard to put down. With is unfamiliar depiction of life style unfamiliar , it still comes out as engaging, inspirational and real. This is striking thing about the story is its deep portrayal of women . This is a highly recommendable book for readers who want to get a good grasps of the different perceptions and treatment of women in our world. It reminded me of another great read, The Usurper and Other.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very good
I enjoyed this book immensely. The descriptions really evoke a very different time and place and gives lots of things to ponder on. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Andrew
A beautiful and fascinating book
This book is in two parts and was originally published with these in separate editions. In part two, you could be reading a different novel. Read more
Published on 8 May 2000
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