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A Far Off Place is the sequel to the bestseller by Laurens Van der Post, 'A Story Like The Wind'. Hunters Drift is a farm in Matabeleland (today part of Zimbabwe)
It is the home of Pierre Paul Joubert known affectionately by all who live there as 'Ouwa', where European, Matabele and Bushmen live in harmony with each other , and with the great flora and fauna of Africa.
This is before the forces of destruction and death, Marxist terrorists, massacre the whole population of Hunter's Drift , as they carve a path of blood through Southern Africa.
The only survivors are Ouwa's teenage son, Francois, Nonnie, the young daughter of a colonial governor and his Portuguese wife, both murdered by the terrorists and Francois' beloved hunting dog, Hintza. They are joined by a young Bushman, Xhabbo, and his wife, Nuin Tarra.
The four young people and brave dog , must pass through bush and desert , to safety , while pursued by the cold-blooded killers.
'A Far Off Place' is a heartwarming story of love hope and courage, and of survival against overwhelming odds. It is about the fine balance between all living creatures.
Not least it highlights the death and suffering caused so many times by those forces of evil that hide behind the slogans of revolution and 'Liberation'.
It is the home of Pierre Paul Joubert known affectionately by all who live there as 'Ouwa', where European, Matabele and Bushmen live in harmony with each other , and with the great flora and fauna of Africa.
This is before the forces of destruction and death, Marxist terrorists, massacre the whole population of Hunter's Drift , as they carve a path of blood through Southern Africa.
The only survivors are Ouwa's teenage son, Francois, Nonnie, the young daughter of a colonial governor and his Portuguese wife, both murdered by the terrorists and Francois' beloved hunting dog, Hintza. They are joined by a young Bushman, Xhabbo, and his wife, Nuin Tarra.
The four young people and brave dog , must pass through bush and desert , to safety , while pursued by the cold-blooded killers.
'A Far Off Place' is a heartwarming story of love hope and courage, and of survival against overwhelming odds. It is about the fine balance between all living creatures.
Not least it highlights the death and suffering caused so many times by those forces of evil that hide behind the slogans of revolution and 'Liberation'.
A must-read for history lovers, this book was written during the European de-colonization of Africa. It gives tremendous perspective in understanding just what happened, and continues to happen, when the opposing tribes are agitated by mercenaries (in this case, the French Foreign Legion). The book is also informative and interesting for understanding the bushmen and their abilities to live in such difficult environments.
My introduction to the book was having watched the 1990s Disney movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon. I've shown the movie several times to my students in Resource Room to help them understand the difficulties of the desert and the conflicts encountered in Africa. (Although the movie is less political, using elephants and the greed around collection of ivory instead of the tribal-mercenary problems.)
My introduction to the book was having watched the 1990s Disney movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon. I've shown the movie several times to my students in Resource Room to help them understand the difficulties of the desert and the conflicts encountered in Africa. (Although the movie is less political, using elephants and the greed around collection of ivory instead of the tribal-mercenary problems.)
