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Product Description
Product Description
First with your head and then with your heart ...
So says Hoppie Groenewald, boxing champion, to a seven-year-old boy who dreams of being the welterweight champion of the world. For the young Peekay, its a piece of advice he will carry with him throughout his life.
Born in a South Africa divided by racism and hatred, this one small boy will come to lead all the tribes of Africa. Through enduring friendships with Hymie and Gideon, Peekay gains the strength he needs to win out. And in a final conflict with his childhood enemy, the Judge, Peekay will fight to the death for justice.
About the Author
Bryce Courtenay was born in South Africa and has lived in Sydney for the major part of his life. He is the bestselling author of The Power of One, April Fool's Day, The Potato Factory, Tommo & Hawk, Jessica, Solomon's Song, Smoky Joe's Cafe, Four Fires, Whitethorn, and Brother Fish.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I just loved the whole feel of the African Continent that is hovering barely below the surface of this book. I felt the superstitious beliefs of the people that led them to adopt a small boy as a tribal chief and follow his boxing prowess throughout the years.
We meet Peekay at the age of 5 when his mother is admitted to hospital after a breakdown and he is sent to boarding school. As the youngest by 2 years and the only Rooineck (British South African), he gets a really rough time, but it paves the way for the person he is to become. He becomes adept at blending into the background and begins his life search for 'the power of one' - the strength that keeps him one step ahead of his tormentors and results in a fierce determination to learn to box.
As we follow him through his school years he meets some very unusual and influential people, all of whom help to map his character and develop him into a rather unbelievable yet charismatic all-rounder.
I would have dropped a point for these super-man qualities, but the book was a gem in spite of this.
I would never have read this if it hadn't been chosen as a (rather long!) book group read and I am so pleased I did. At the end I felt there was need for a sequel and it seems that one was written. Tandia is the story of an African woman who meets Peekay after he leaves us in the copper mines. At 920 pages it's a huge tome, but I'll certainly keep my eyes open for it.
We meet Peekay at the age of 5 when his mother is admitted to hospital after a breakdown and he is sent to boarding school. As the youngest by 2 years and the only Rooineck (British South African), he gets a really rough time, but it paves the way for the person he is to become. He becomes adept at blending into the background and begins his life search for 'the power of one' - the strength that keeps him one step ahead of his tormentors and results in a fierce determination to learn to box.
As we follow him through his school years he meets some very unusual and influential people, all of whom help to map his character and develop him into a rather unbelievable yet charismatic all-rounder.
I would have dropped a point for these super-man qualities, but the book was a gem in spite of this.
I would never have read this if it hadn't been chosen as a (rather long!) book group read and I am so pleased I did. At the end I felt there was need for a sequel and it seems that one was written. Tandia is the story of an African woman who meets Peekay after he leaves us in the copper mines. At 920 pages it's a huge tome, but I'll certainly keep my eyes open for it.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In 1992 I watched a film from the director of Rocky. It was OK, a bit of a mixed bag. Some years later I discovered that it was actually based on a book and almost a decade later I finally got around to buying a copy and reading it.
Let me say that The Power of One is not for the faint hearted. There are various scenes early on that are very disturbing but necessary and character driven. We see South Africa through the eyes of P.K., a young fatherless English South African (as opposed to Afrikaans) from his troubled beginnings at school, through his teens and then to young adulthood (all the while watching him realise his passions of education and boxing).
Characters in the book are well written and memorable, the surrogate father figure of Doc, the dignified Geel Piet and the odious Botha. As beautiful and at times as terrifying as the history of South Africa itself, The Power of One is essential reading. You wont forget it.
The story continues in the novel Tandia.
Let me say that The Power of One is not for the faint hearted. There are various scenes early on that are very disturbing but necessary and character driven. We see South Africa through the eyes of P.K., a young fatherless English South African (as opposed to Afrikaans) from his troubled beginnings at school, through his teens and then to young adulthood (all the while watching him realise his passions of education and boxing).
Characters in the book are well written and memorable, the surrogate father figure of Doc, the dignified Geel Piet and the odious Botha. As beautiful and at times as terrifying as the history of South Africa itself, The Power of One is essential reading. You wont forget it.
The story continues in the novel Tandia.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the most powerful books that I have read in recent years - I would give it ten stars if I could.
I loved the feel and the smell of Africa that comes through on every page. I loved the character of Peekay and also the characters of Hoppie, Doc and all the others who come into Peekay's life, helping him to gain his view of the world and to climb his own personal mountain.
I really wanted to know that this was based on real experience - so I'm delighted to discover that there is a strong autobiographical element to the book. Bryce Courtenay grew up in South Africa and had some experiences similar to Peekay. Peekay is, however, larger than life.
The feeling that I have on reaching the end of the book is that of being very humbled. The story is dense with down-to-earth wisdom and insights of sufficient brilliance that make you want to stop for a moment in order to digest this new perspective. And the story itself is one that you want to keep hearing.
I think that everyone should read this book.
I loved the feel and the smell of Africa that comes through on every page. I loved the character of Peekay and also the characters of Hoppie, Doc and all the others who come into Peekay's life, helping him to gain his view of the world and to climb his own personal mountain.
I really wanted to know that this was based on real experience - so I'm delighted to discover that there is a strong autobiographical element to the book. Bryce Courtenay grew up in South Africa and had some experiences similar to Peekay. Peekay is, however, larger than life.
The feeling that I have on reaching the end of the book is that of being very humbled. The story is dense with down-to-earth wisdom and insights of sufficient brilliance that make you want to stop for a moment in order to digest this new perspective. And the story itself is one that you want to keep hearing.
I think that everyone should read this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
My favourite book of all time
This has to be my favourite book of all time! Peekay is so loveable right from the start and never stops being so! Read more
Published 3 months ago by hannah
Goes on and on and on and on......
I am surprised at all the 5 star reviews I have seen for this book. At first I really enjoyed it. Little Peekay and his faithful friend Grandpa chook, meeting the train conductor... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Thomas
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
This book is beyond believable. It starts interestingly enough and is easy to follow but it becomes less and less credible with every paragraph.
Published 8 months ago by MandyC
My Favourite Book
I loved this book when I first read it back in 1990. I was disappointed with the film as I don't think it did the book justice and weakened the story singificantly. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Zulu
A wonderful, moving book.
I read this book for the first time aged 15, and to this day it is still the only book that has ever made me cry. Read more
Published 13 months ago by D. J. Darroch-Thompson
Best Book ever!!
Bryce Courtney is one of my favourite authors and this is my favourite book of his. The sequel Tandia is as good too. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mrs. Kathlyn Carmichael
One of the best books I have ever read
One of the best books I have ever read, if not THE best.
It's beautifully written. I was hooked by page 3. Read more
It's beautifully written. I was hooked by page 3. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Ms. S. Thom
An extraordinary story!
I have just finished this extraordinary novel and was delighted to discover it has a sequel. I have a number of South African friends for whom this book has become, apparently,... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Barks
Bryce is King
This is a fantastic read (you will love it) as is all of Bryce Courtenay's books.
He is a one-off and each of his books are so different. Read more
He is a one-off and each of his books are so different. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2010 by Je Myers
true genius
I have read The Power of One several times, and have passed it on to both my children, who loved it as well. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2009 by Savanna
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