Geknelde Land

Groot Trek Tetralogie #1

by F.A. Venter

Hoe gebeur dit dat ’n hele gevestigde gemeenskap sy tentpenne uitruk en die wildernis intrek? In Geknelde land gee FA Venter ’n diep-menslike antwoord op dié en ook op baie ander vrae oor die Groot Trek. Dit is die verhaal van die Dreyer-gesin van Grensplaas en vertel van die ontberings en terugslae wat dié boeregesin moes verduur voor hulle uiteindelik ook besluit om te trek.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

François Alwyn Venter was born in Hopetown on 27 November 1916. He attended school at Vioolskraal, Strydenburg and Hopetown, and matriculated in 1934. He studied at Stellenbosch University and commenced a career as journalist in 1938, working in Cape Town, Pretoria, Windhoek and Johannesburg. In 1960 he began farming in the Kenhardt district, and ten years later started farming near Vredendal in the Olifants River Valley. In 1976 he retired to Strand, where he began to write full-time.

F.A. Venter was known for his historical novels, short stories and books for young adults. He received the Hertzog Prize for prose in 1961 for his novels Swart pelgrim and Geknelde land. Geknelde land formed part of his Great Trek tetralogy which appeared in the 1960s and also included Offerland, Gelofteland and Bedoelde land. His last book, Van Botterkraal na Altena, appeared in 1996 in celebration of his 80th birthday. It contained a selection from his four autobiographical works, one of which, Die keer toe ek my naam vergeet het, won him the Andrew Murray Prize in 1996. This book is about his recovery after suffering a stroke in 1990. F.A. Venter died on 8 July 1997 at the age of 80.

Reviews

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

'n Mens lees die boek met ander oë na soveel jare. Het dit baie geniet.

[Wilhelm van der Merwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Nothing like getting a different perspective every now and then.