I was truly disappointed with this one.

My main gripe is that once the colonizers arrived, the story significantly reduced its focus on the indigenous tribes that had been there (except for a glorious section on the Zulu). Instead, it mostly centered around the English and Huguenot/Dutch/Afrikaner colonizers, and their interactions (such as extermination and slavery) with the indigenous tribes.

Related to this, while I think this book might have seemed reasonably "woke" for its time (published in 1980), there is definitely a strong hint of white saviorism in some of the characters. Take, for example, the oddball missionary who was ostracized for marrying a "colored" woman. I believe he is intended to be one of the more sympathetic characters, but he comes across as the embodiment of the white savior complex, believing it is his duty to unite the indigenous tribes, the various "colored" immigrant communities, and the white colonizers. Yikes.

Michener doesn't shy away from the white supremacy inherent in the Afrikaner mission of power and eventual apartheid. I think he does a good job of developing relatively complex characters leading their separatist Afrikan communities and their relationships with their slaves/black workers. However, I just wish we could have seen more of this from the perspective of the indigenous black people or "colored" people from various other (not exclusively white) backgrounds, who receive almost no coverage in the book.

My other major complaint is that the Dutch/Afrikan fight for power is just senseless and dumb violence, which made for a really slow story. The majority of the novel involves white men fighting other white men, often enlisting black men to fight on their side with promises of freedom afterwards - for decades and centuries. The history of South Africa is extremely bleak, violent, and filled with atrocities, deep racism, and exploitation of indigenous people, and it doesn't make for very "enjoyable" reading. Still, I do feel like I learned about the history of South Africa (something I truly knew nothing about), and I feel like I should read more about what happened after this book was published, since it clearly ends at a very tense time during apartheid.

My Favorite Book

Books are like good friends that accompany us through different stages of life. Among all the books I have read, my favorite one is [book title].

This book has a unique charm that attracts me from the very beginning. The story is engaging and full of twists and turns, making it impossible for me to put it down. The characters are vividly portrayed, and I can easily imagine their expressions and actions as I read.

Moreover, the author's writing style is simple yet profound. Through the story, the author explores many important themes such as love, friendship, and courage. These themes have touched my heart and made me think deeply about my own life.

In conclusion, [book title] is not just a book, but also a source of inspiration and motivation for me. It has taught me many valuable lessons and has made me a better person. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading and wants to gain some insights into life.

Incredibly written book!

I should not be surprised when the author is Michener. His writing skills are truly remarkable.

I never expected to be able to learn the history of South Africa in such a unique way. Michener has a talent for presenting complex historical events in a captivating and engaging manner.

He told the rich history of the land with great detail, covering everything from the early settlers to the modern-day struggles.

It is as if he takes the reader on a journey through time, allowing us to experience the events firsthand.

The book is not only informative but also a pleasure to read. Michener's vivid descriptions and well-developed characters bring the history to life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about South Africa or simply looking for a great read.

Mitchener's Covenant is an epic work that spans an astonishing 1,235 pages, covering the history of South Africa from prehistory all the way to the 1980s. It is a vivid chronicle of a history that is greedy, bloody, brutal, confusing, and at times even ridiculous. This history is based on the belief that "God sponsored their political behavior." What sets Mitchener apart is his ability to bring history to life and provide clarity like no other. The book is filled with at least a hundred characters, many of whom may be forgettable on their own, but together they are highly effective in depicting history and rendering its themes. The Dutch, the British, the Zulu, the Bantu, the Huguenots, the missionaries, the Boer Wars, the gold seekers, the diamond hunters - they all make their appearance. And of course, the mind-blowing principles of apartheid, whether in the hearts of the people or in the law books, blanket the entire history. My only regret is that I did not read Covenant before other great works such as The Long Walk to Freedom, Born a Crime, or Hero of the Empire. Page 690 details the Battle of Blood River, the rise of General Pretoria, and the foundation for the Covenant Monument, located south of Pretoria.

Hands down, this is my most favorite Michener book! It is the seventh epic novel of his that I have read, and I have very few complaints.

Unlike "Caribbean", the final ending of this book was a complete surprise! It was extremely interesting to read about the rise of Apartheid. When he published this book in the spring of 1980, Apartheid was still very strong and a part of the country. Thankfully, it finally fell in 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. Weirdly enough, the book never mentions Mandela (from what I remember).

My favorite part was about the second Boer War. As my great grandfather fought for England in that 1899 to 1902 conflict, it added a personal touch to my reading experience.

I'm going to take a Michener break for now. But I will be back with either "The Novel" or "Alaska" after I'm finished with Robbie Robertson.

Overall, this Michener book has been a captivating and engaging read, and I highly recommend it to others who enjoy historical fiction.

A captivating novel of over a thousand pages, it took me three months to finish it, but it was well worth it.

Although the author was born at the beginning of the last century and the novel was published in the early 1980s, I didn't notice an "antique" vocabulary and rhythm. On the contrary, it could have been written now for its smoothness and modern style.

I am a passionate lover of historical novels of this magnitude that embrace centuries, if not millennia, of a particular people or nation, and I was looking for something similar to authors like Rutherfurd and Follett. Well, Michener, whom I guiltily didn't know until recently when I searched for authors similar to the two above, has charmed and conquered me with his narration of the history of South Africa, a nation that has always fascinated me for its natural beauty and social contradictions.

It's a pity that, having been published in 1980, inevitably it didn't reach the narration of the end of apartheid and the release of Mandela.

I feel completely unqualified to pen any kind of review on this particular work. All I can say is that it is extremely challenging to fathom the extensive research and meticulous planning that were involved in crafting such a complex and elaborate blend of fiction and real history.

The way the author has intertwined these two elements is truly remarkable and makes it a captivating read.

However, I do have a wish. I hope that someone would undertake to write a contemporary version of this story. This new version could take the reader on a journey through the downfall of apartheid, a significant and tumultuous period in history.

Additionally, it could delve deeper into and discuss more of the invaluable contributions made by women during that time. Their roles and efforts were often overlooked or underappreciated, and it would be wonderful to have a more comprehensive exploration of their impact.

Such a contemporary version would not only provide a fresh perspective but also serve to educate and enlighten readers about an important chapter in our collective past.

I never in my wildest dreams believed that I could truly understand the convoluted, bloody, and utterly perplexing history of South Africa. But then, along came Michener and proved me completely wrong. This remarkable work was published way back in 1980. Oh, how I wish Jimmy was still here with us to offer a follow-up that spanned from 1980 all the way to the present.

Can you believe it? This book has a whopping 1235 pages! And yet, it only took me 8 and a half weeks to devour it. This has to be my biggest accomplishment of the year. In fact, it might even be the longest book I've ever read in my entire life. If, for some reason, I don't manage to get through anything else on my 2011 challenge shelf, well, that's okay. Because this reading experience has been truly unforgettable and has given me a newfound appreciation for the complex history of South Africa.

What a truly fascinating story it is!

I had absolutely no inkling of the intense struggles that the South African black and mixed race natives were forced to endure for a staggering period of nearly 400 years.

And to think that all of this was done in the name of religion is simply mind-boggling. It is extremely hard to fully grasp the magnitude and horror of what they went through.

This has piqued my curiosity to such an extent that I am determined to read more on this subject. I want to delve deeper into the history, understand the causes and consequences, and gain a more comprehensive perspective on this tragic chapter of South African history.

Hopefully, by doing so, I can gain a better appreciation of the sacrifices and hardships that these individuals endured and perhaps contribute in some small way to ensuring that such injustices are never repeated.

Michener has masterfully crafted an unforgettable account of the development of South Africa.

This novel is teeming with a diverse cast of characters, including scoundrels and heroes, adventurers and ministers, all against the backdrop of racism and colonialism.

Although fictional, it is firmly rooted in historical fact, providing valuable insights into the politics of South Africa.

The characters he has created are incredibly believable, ranging from the original brown people to the Trekboers, Afrikaners, Nxumalos, the Zulu nation, the missionaries, and the settlers.

At times, I had to remind myself that they were not real historical figures but rather fictional creations that came alive on the page.

Reading this novel was both a daunting task and one that I could not put down.

It is hard to fathom how some of the settlers became so deeply entrenched in their own interpretation of the Bible and what they believed God was commanding them to do.

This helped me to understand the origins of Apartheid.

I must admit that I did not fully grasp the limitations and devastation that Apartheid wrought, even though it was happening while I was living a comfortable life in Canada.

For me, the most significant takeaway from this book was a deeper understanding of my own white privilege and a greater appreciation of the horrors of Apartheid.

I now feel compelled to learn more about this dark period in South African history and plan to visit the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg to gain a better understanding of Mandela and his heroic fight for freedom.

This novel and this author are a commitment, and not to be taken lightly.

For me, it’s the best way to learn history, through the guise of fictional characters who played significant, yet supporting, roles in major world events. Michener did it like no other, and his work is worth reverence.

I am now thoroughly fascinated by South African history, and I find myself searching for collateral information in the form of podcasts and You Tube videos.

Most of the characters in The Covenant are tough to like, but are nonetheless engaging. In fact, I downright despised characters like Detleef Van Doorn, who plays a part in developing apartheid. The Afrikaner culture is despicable, no matter how hard Michener tried to make them sympathetic or understandable.

But you can’t walk away from this book without an appreciation for what every race endured in South Africa over the past five centuries, and I believe that was Michener’s goal.

This can be a slog at times, but it is definitely worth the commitment if you have any interest in historical fiction or South Africa. It offers a unique perspective on a complex and often painful history, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of the events and people that shaped the nation.

Despite the challenges of the subject matter, Michener’s masterful storytelling keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. His attention to detail and ability to bring the past to life make The Covenant a must-read for anyone interested in history or literature.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an immersive and thought-provoking reading experience.

4.5 stars

When I first laid eyes on this formidable book, which boasted almost 1200 pages, I was intimidated. I postponed reading it for several weeks. However, once I finally began, I was utterly fascinated by the brutal and bloody history of this beautiful country, South Africa.

The story is masterfully told through the lives, actions, and beliefs of three extended, multigeneration families. While fictional, they are intertwined with actual events, providing a unique perspective on how the reviled system of apartheid came to be. There is an Afrikaaner family, an amalgamation of mainly Dutch, Huguenot, and German heritage, an English family, and a Zulu family, each with their own rich history in South Africa. We also learn about the fate of other tribes and indigenous people such as the Xhosa, San (Bushman), and Hottentots.

Fanatical and firmly held religious beliefs played a significant role in the treatment of different races. The Whites considered the Blacks inferior in ability, fit only for servitude or menial labor. The Coloured people, of mixed race, were stigmatized for the supposed sexual sins of their ancestors and confined to specific jobs and separate living areas. Blacks saw their homes bulldozed and were forcibly relocated to segregated areas. The Chinese were brought in as cheap labor and then expelled, while the Indians were also considered beneath the white settlers and limited in their living and achievements. Gandhi even makes an appearance as a stretcher bearer during the Boer War.

The Afrikaaners, for the most part, believed they had a covenant with God to rule this country, and their religious beliefs gave them the justification to subject and enslave those they considered inferior. The English, on the other hand, wanted South Africa as part of the British Empire, leading to bloody wars with heroic actions on both sides. Their native servants sometimes accompanied them into battle, and there were also conflicts with the Zulus.

The thoughts and actions of the book's characters provided me with a deeper understanding of this gorgeous yet troubled country than any history book could convey. Some of the fictional characters are based on real people and events, and throughout the book, we also encounter real historical figures. It added to my enjoyment to look up their photos and biographies on the internet, as well as pictures and maps of the places mentioned.

The book was published in 1979, during the height of apartheid. At that time, positions of wealth and power were monopolized by the whites, other races were disenfranchised, Blacks were having their homes demolished and being sent to hovels outside the city, and anyone, regardless of race, considered an agitator could be banned, imprisoned, and/or tortured.

I only wish there had been an addition to the book covering the rapid events that followed, starting with President de Klerk's negotiations with Mandela while he was imprisoned in 1990, the dismantling of apartheid, the establishment of universal voting rights, Mandela's release from prison, and his ascent to the presidency. I would have loved to know how the book's characters thought and reacted to these profound changes in the structure of their society. At the end of the book, it was suggested that these changes would take a great deal of time, patience, and perhaps even a war to occur. Little did they know that within 14 years of the publication of "The Covenant," many of these changes would come to pass.