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This is the story of the great Boer trek in the 1830's, when ten thousand Boers, their families, flocks and households left their fertile farms in the Cape Colony and set off into the vast, unknown emptiness of Africa. Driven by their hatred for the British who now ruled the Cape, as well as the old, old quest for a promised land and new beginnings, they faced flood, fire, ambush and treachery in their search for their unknown destination. Many died by the way but none of them turned back. The Fiercest Heart is the story of some of these brave Oom Willem, their strange, fierce leader; Tante Maria his enormous, kindly sister-in-law; and above all Cina, the tawny-haired, bewitching tomboy who in the course of the trek learns what it is to be a woman.
Driven by a deep-seated resentment toward British colonial rule, a group of Boers abandons their established lives in the Cape Colony to embark on a perilous migration into the uncharted African interior. The narrative follows the collective struggle of these pioneers as they navigate environmental hazards, internal discord, and the constant threat of ambush. At the center of this migration is Cina, a spirited young woman whose personal maturation mirrors the harsh, transformative nature of the trek itself. The story utilizes a third-person perspective to capture both the grand scale of the movement and the intimate, often brutal, realities faced by the individual travelers.
This work is characterized by its focus on the rugged, expansive nature of the South African frontier during a pivotal historical era. The narrative structure emphasizes the physical toll and the psychological endurance required by those participating in the Great Trek. Readers often note the author's ability to balance the sweeping historical context with the personal development of the protagonist, Cina. The prose reflects a traditional approach to historical storytelling, prioritizing the depiction of environmental and social obstacles over internal monologue. The book serves as a detailed examination of a specific cultural migration, framing the struggle for independence through the lens of a challenging, long-distance expedition.
Page Count:
318
Publication Date:
1974-01-01
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers Limited
ISBN-10:
0006136761
ISBN-13:
9780006136767
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