My all-time favorite Michener book!

It truly taught me an abundance about South Africa.

To be sure, it is a bit dated and perhaps has some generational biases.

However, it initiated me into the basics.

For instance, it informed me about where the Afrikaners originated from and when.

Thanks to this book, I was able to build on that knowledge and continue learning about South Africa from there.

It served as a wonderful foundation for my exploration of this fascinating country and its complex history.

Even with its flaws, it remains a valuable and influential work that has left a lasting impression on me.

I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about South Africa or simply looking for an engaging and informative read.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit just how much I adored this book.

It was an incredibly engrossing means of acquiring a wealth of knowledge about the Boers and so much more.

The story within its pages truly captivated me, drawing me in and making me eager to learn more about this particular aspect of history.

Now that I've finished this book, I feel a strong inclination to delve deeper into the subject.

I should probably pick up some more formal histories of South Africa to further expand my understanding.

Doing so will not only provide me with a more comprehensive view of the country's past but also allow me to compare and contrast the information I've already gathered from this engaging book.

I'm excited to embark on this new literary journey and continue my exploration of South African history.

Overall, the book is good, yet it can be frustrating. However, it's not as frustrating as Texas. Michener's style, which involves telling the story of a society over centuries, filled with family drama and characters representing entire classes of people, is perfect when it works. But the key is to align the style and subject matter correctly. In The Covenant, it seems to work about half the time.

(Minor spoilers follow.)

Perhaps the biggest issue with the novel as a whole is its heavy focus on the Dutch/Boer/Afrikaner. The main Afrikaner family, the Van Doorns, is the (collective) protagonist for most of the novel. Later, an English family, the Saltwoods, becomes major players and interacts with the Afrikaners in various ways over time. But the main black African family, the Nxumalos, although present throughout the book, doesn't truly emerge as full participants until the final chapter. Maybe this is an inevitable storytelling compromise since the story is framed around South Africa, the modern state, rather than Southern Africa, the region. Still, it's rather frustrating. Probably the best part of the book is the Apartheid chapter, which consists of six short stories highlighting the pervasive and destructive effects of Apartheid on ordinary South Africans and is only loosely connected to the rest of the story.

Apparently, earlier drafts of the novel had additional chapters at the beginning, detailing the geological formation of South Africa (including the creation of a significant diamond with symbolic importance) and the appearance of early humans. But they were cut at some point (likely because the book is already quite long). So, the only prehistoric chapter is about a tribe of proto-San hunter-gatherers migrating across South Africa to the Cape. This is an odd compromise as the San migration chapter is only peripherally related to the rest of the story (no clearly identified descendants of the characters in that chapter appear later; only a cave painting by one of the characters resurfaces in the final chapter). And the omission of the geological chapter means that the diamond-related aspect of South African history is somewhat shortchanged.

The book was published in 1980, so unfortunately, it ends at an unresolved point. The characters all speculate about how Apartheid would inevitably end - peacefully or violently, with mass expulsions of white South Africans or with reconciliation, and how long it would take for South Africa to achieve stability and justice. Obviously, if the book were written in 2000, there would inevitably be developments since then that couldn't be included, and a reader would lament their exclusion. But the institution and effects of Apartheid essentially form the climax of the novel, and from a narratological perspective, it's very unfortunate that there is no resolution.

3 1/2 stars.

The Covenant has a great deal to recommend it. It presents a sweeping and detailed history of South Africa. Through reading it, I have learned a wealth of information about the country and its people. However, the problem lies in the fact that it isn't the book I initially expected to read.

This book is extremely heavy on history, and at times, it becomes far more detailed than I desired. The portrayal of the people, on the other hand, is rather uneven. Many of them seem more like caricatures than fully developed characters. As a result, the book contains large sections that can only be described as overly detailed and plodding history.

Would I recommend this book? I have mixed emotions. If you have a genuine interest in understanding apartheid and possess the stamina to endure a very long book, then it is likely worth the effort. However, if you are in search of a book of historical fiction, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

tl;dr - Read the book, don't listen to the audio

I listened to the Audiobook (if you can even call it that). It is actually a 1993 tape recording with a monotonous narrator who cannot pronounce a single word related to the Dutch, Afrikaners, Xhosa, Zulu. Being about 60 hours of audio, it gets a bit tedious being told to reverse, or turn the tape around every 30 minutes. And if the narrator wasn't bad enough on his own, you had this static (sea shell) type background throughout the whole book. I truly cannot fathom why there was no effort made to re-record Michener's books.

With that out of the way. The book was so good, that I ended up ignoring all the narration complaints and spend a month listening to the history of South Africa. I've never cared much for knowing my history very well. But was recommended the author by a friend, and figured that if I'm going to engage in the history of any country, it might as well be my own. And I'm not sorry at all.

At the back of this book, I'm actually quite angry that history doesn't get taught in this type of format at school level. I probably don't know a single person that enjoyed history at school. But being taught in a novel format with relatable characters, I couldn't stop listening and I can recall most of the history with relative accuracy of more or less which years that happened.

The book hit quite close to home. Being an Afrikaner, raised in the Dutch Reformed church, born at the time this book was written. It was in the time when things weren't going that well in South Africa, as the book accurately depicts. And only now do I have a full picture of what lead up was to the different phases of South Africa's evolution.

This book won't be for everyone. You either need to be a big lover of history, or have a direct correlation to the history of South Africa. Whether that is through the Dutch, the Afrikaner, the Coloureds, the Hottentots, the Huguenots, the English, the Xhosa, the Zulu (or even the German and Indian settlers sent from London).

The story is very much told from each culture's own perspective. Giving a solid understanding of what the differences/misunderstandings were and why. Having the full parallel history through the centuries to see why certain events happened. The main thread also makes the same families lives cross again and again over the centuries.

The second half of the book does slow down the pace quite a bit. And I suspect it might be due to the grim nature of the content. Going into the Zulu war, then the English war, then apartheid.

To summarize the major events/eras I got out of this book:

• Bushmen running into the blacks


• Merchants from Zimbabwe exploring Africa for Rhino horn and gold


• Blacks moving up in Africa to Zimbabwe whom were far advanced in the time


• Travel / Trade between Java, the Spice Islands and the Asian countries


• Dutch travel between Amsterdam and Java having to stop in Cape Town


• Settling in Cape Town to have food/drink for the Dutch travellers


• Dutch exploring/moving into Africa and encounters with the locals


• The start of wine making in South Africa


• The Trek Boers and their beliefs


• Xhosa war


• Zulu war


• British colonisation and war


• Cecil Rhodes and mining


• Jan Smuts with and then against all the other Generals (Piet Retief, de la Rey,


• Paul Kruger


• Apartheid


• Diamonds


• To the point of sending Mandela to Robben Island


• All of which highly centres around religious beliefs

There were certain fascinating facts:

• The German influence coming to South Africa as part of the Dutch colonisation as free burghers forming part of the Calvinist Reformed Church of the Netherlands.


• Like why there are Indians in Natal.

It is pretty hard to summarize/review a book of such epic proportion. I definitely want to read more Michener. I probably just need to give myself a year or so to attempt another audio version.

My favorite author is Michener. The story he tells about South Africa is truly remarkable.

When I say "behind," it refers to Michener's unique style. He commences his narrative from the very beginning of time,描绘 the formation of the earth, the arrival of the first people in the area, and progresses all the way to the present day.

There is an astonishing amount of information packed into this story, yet it remains highly entertaining to read. Michener skillfully weaves the tales of several families whose lives intersect repeatedly over the course of centuries.

His vivid descriptions and detailed accounts bring the history and culture of South Africa to life, allowing the reader to gain a deep understanding and appreciation of this complex and diverse region.

Michener's work is a testament to his remarkable storytelling abilities and his profound knowledge of the subject matter.

It is no wonder that his books have become classics and continue to be beloved by readers around the world.

James Michener's epic book on South Africa is a captivating exploration of the country's complex history.

It commences with the early settlements by the Dutch and chronicles the subsequent expansion by English immigrants and others. The narrative then delves into the South Africa of the Apartheid age, just before its elimination.

Michener's meticulous research and attention to detail bring to life the tumultuous and violent history of South Africa. The people, their struggles, and the values that motivated them add depth and a personal touch to the story, against the backdrop of sweeping changes.

This tragic tale encompasses slavery, the fight against the elements, racism, war, and love. With a vast cast of characters spanning hundreds of years, the novel offers insights into figures like Cecil Rhodes, the rise of the Zulu Empire, the Boer wars, and the concentration camps established by the British during that conflict.

It also provides a revealing look at the evil of Apartheid, its establishment, and the awareness among many whites that it was unsustainable.

As with many of Michener's works, this book combines an engaging story with valuable learning. It is truly a fantastic read that leaves a lasting impression.

The story dates back to only 1841.

First and foremost, there is a story about the first tribe that would gradually migrate to the South. This tribe's journey was filled with challenges and uncertainties as they made their way to a new land.

Subsequently, the Dutch arrived and set up a way station on the way to Java. This not only provided a resting place for travelers but also marked the beginning of wine production in the area.

After that, the Huguenots arrived and brought with them their expertise in winemaking, which further improved the quality of the wine.

Then, the English arrived with their missionaries, who had a significant impact on the local culture and society.

Finally, we have the rise of the Zulu nation, which added another layer of complexity to the history of this region.

Michener tells this story masterfully, covering the horrid situations that each group faced along the way. It is truly an interesting tale from an area that I know very little about, and it has piqued my curiosity to learn more.

It was truly fascinating to read this book that concluded in 1980. As of 2009, we are now able to look back and reflect on what transpired in South Africa. It is truly remarkable to observe that out of the two scenarios that Michener considered most likely, the (relatively) bloodless one came to fruition. I particularly relished his section on South Africa during the apartheid era. It serves as a stark reminder to me of just how idiotic, brutal, and ineffective that system was. The whites nowadays tend to gripe about Affirmative Action and BEE, but when one examines the system that we imposed on the blacks, it is sufficient to make us feel ashamed. That is not to suggest that we should not strive to make South Africa a better place for all. We simply need to recognize the origins of our young democracy and be appalled by what we did, both mentally and physically, to the majority of our population. Not to mention the state of our education and skills development for the black population. What a disgrace!

The book, as a whole, sort of meandered through 1000 pages of South Africa's history. Obviously, I was interested in the subject matter, but overall, the book is not overly exciting. It is more of a slow-paced exploration with highlights of our history, and I enjoyed it in that regard.

I once read another Michener novel, and I was really impressed by how skillfully he could intertwine a captivating plot line with the rich tapestry of history. However, in this particular book that delves into the history of South Africa, I don't think that concept was executed as effectively.

To be fair, I did manage to learn a few things along the way, and there were moments when I was indeed entertained. But unfortunately, there were also several instances where the connections made seemed highly implausible, almost as if they were forcibly created just to stitch together the disparate threads of the story.

Moreover, there were long stretches of the narrative that were simply dull and uninteresting. These sections seemed to serve no real purpose in advancing either the historical theme, the plot, or the development of the characters. It was a bit disappointing considering the potential that Michener had shown in his other works.

Overall, while the book had its redeeming qualities, it ultimately fell short of my expectations in terms of effectively combining history and a compelling story.

A truly magnificent work.

This should be required reading for anyone interested in South Africa.

It offers a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the country's rich history, diverse culture, and complex social and political landscapes.

The author has done an excellent job of presenting a vivid and engaging account that is both informative and thought-provoking.

Whether you are a student, a researcher, or simply someone who wants to learn more about South Africa, this book is an essential addition to your library.

It provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that the country has faced and continues to face, as well as the remarkable achievements and contributions of its people.

Overall, this is a must-read work that will leave you with a deeper understanding and appreciation of South Africa.

This book is, to say the least, VERY in depth.

I read it as an academic requirement prior to studying abroad in South Africa for 3.5 months. As I delved into its pages, I found myself constantly wondering about the veracity of the story that Michener was presenting.

Surprisingly, a significant portion of it was highly relevant and accurate. Nevertheless, I was rather frustrated by the excessive amount of detail that the author incorporated into the numerous little side-stories that were scattered throughout the entire novel.

On the whole, the book is very well-written. The prose is engaging, and the author's ability to bring the characters and the setting to life is quite remarkable. However, despite its literary merits, it simply isn't my type of book. I prefer something that is a bit more concise and to the point, without being bogged down by an overabundance of minutiae.

Nonetheless, I can appreciate the effort and research that went into writing this book, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy a detailed and immersive read.