Die Ernte des Sommers

by Madge Swindells, Werner Peterich (Translator)

André und Marie van Achternburgh gehört das blühende Landgut Fontainebleu in der Kap-Provinz. Sie sind reich, kultiviert und wünschen sich für ihre einzige Tochter Anna, die ein exklusives Internat besucht, den passenden Ehemann. Doch Anna geht ihren eigenen Weg: Sie heiratet Simon Smit, einen verarmten Farmer. Mit Fleiß und Geschick verwandelt sie dessen armseligen Besitz Modderfontein in ein Paradies. Doch dann decken Neider und Intriganten ein Geheimnis auf, das Anna jahrelang gehütet hat ...

Genres: Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Ebooks, Romance

607 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

MADGE SWINDELLS was born and educated in England. As a teenager, she emigrated with her parents to South Africa where she studied archaeology and anthropology at Cape Town University. The author of numerous romance novels, her work has been translated into seven languages and has reached bestseller lists across the world.

Reviews

[Joanne]

This book is sort of a South African "Gone with the Wind" - A strong woman going from poverty to riches, driven by greed, revenge, and the need to be in control of her life. In the meantime, she misses the joy and love that could be hers for the taking. As the author points out, "to reject joy and love is to reject God." A very thought-provoking story.

[Cindy Woods]

Pretty good

I guess you have to either live in South Africa now or have in the past to not be offended by the social-political acceptance of apartheid. It is a subject that makes me disgusted.

The story is quite good, though. It begins in the mid 1930's. The plot surrounds the racial imbalance and, mostly, the socio-economic barrier in rural South Africa. Basically, an indigent young farmer courting the daughter of a successful and rich farm owner. It there is nothing predictable in this plot. The idea of 'money equals success' is dissected here in a very real way.

I disliked Anna for much of the book and my sympathies lie with Sophie from start to finish. This is an engrossing read in that the decades of hurt, retaliation, secrets and discovery are written with much realism, good and bad. It is a painful family history.

I would recommend to readers of historical fiction.

[Jenni Strader]

My dad loaned me this book and told me to read it. I trust his judgement but I was a little hesitant. It was small print and many pages. But once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I loved her characters and I truly cared about what happened to all of them. Very engrossing!

[Le Giang]

something like gone with the wind

[gerry]

Another great novel by Madge Swindells

Set in South Africa, this is a story about the lead characters' need, determination and dedication to making money, unfortunately at the expense of family and friends. The plot is very well developed and intriguing and includes an important aspect of apartheid that really impacts the story. The holocaust is also represented. This novel has it all-a good read.

[Being or Notbeing]

It's comparable to other love stories around the world in this very particular period time of the early 20th century. It's more existentialism where morality can be easily broken by imputing the blame to someone else. I have a feeling that the harsh human condition in the 20th century and some liberal illusion of education from the Enlightenment is the conditions for the blossom of existentialism, which maintain and advance the depression, division, and deception of people.

[Karen Cogan]

An engaging saga

This book spanned two generations of a family living in South Africa. It began when Anna was a young girl. She married only to face dissatisfaction. She made money but it didn’t buy her happiness. A long held secret nearby destroyed her, but she does find happiness again. This book was hard to put down.

[Mary Payne]

Summer Harvest

A remarkable story, a tale of love and loss. Anna a strong willed young woman knows what she wants and doesn't let anything stand in her way only to lose it all. Only when this happens does she find real joy in her life.

[Diane Yianni]

amazing and spell binding story

When I read the first couple of chapters I nearly put it down. It didn’t grab me at all. But I persevered and I am so glad I did. Madge is an amazing story teller and has you on your toes all through the book.
Di.
Australia

[Sally]

4.5 stars

[Sash]

Very small print but I enjoyed the read. Felt like there were some loose ends but an engrossing book.

[Rosemarie Leahy]

Enchanting

This is another one of Madge Swindell that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Not a boring line to be read . Hope to find another as good. Best regards Rosemarie Leahy.

[Linh King]

I have read the Vietnamese translation of Summer Harvest but couldn’t find the book here on Goodreads, so just for a short comment on how it had hit me at first.

At the beginning of this book, it was all about the love of Anna and Simon.

I’ve gotta said, no idea of the author, this women must have loved, a love that so normal, so real, so everywhere. And must have been excellent at expressing it, calling it out, pour the reality on letters.

It’s not a dream love, nor a admiring life, not an ideal lover, nor an easy management. It slap you right on your face like how poverty would do in that situation. But it’s necessary, for any girls who still dream of a soft man, gentle and caring man (like me :))))). Man may fall in love with a beautiful princess but will definitely not expect a clumsy wife in his kitchen.

Mate, read it, especially made for women who is expected to get married soon. You may not want to marry ever ;)) but trust me you must read it

A bit warning that despite the overwhelming first half, the rest of the book, started since Anne became wealthy and the whole empire seem to be stable, it’d started to be just like the same motip, sadly. Though i think the ending kinda shallow, it still worth the reading.

Bản tiếng Việt là Tình yêu trở lại/ Mùa gặt

[Cathy]

This book tells a story about family secrets, life, love, hurt, money and coming to terms with God and deep emotions. It is a gentle book because there is no extreme violence and no cursing. It spans about 20 years and is so well written that it is impossible not to feel the characters pain and joy from their successes and their failures. I enjoyed the descriptions of nature because it takes place in a part of the world I'll probably never visit.

[ike pauh]

dnf. will continue some time later on but I've read a slightly more compact version of this: Master of the Game! Summer Harvest (or probably more like real life dynastic families) must have inspired Master of the Game.

[Cws]

F Swi

[Maneden]

Took forever to get into the book and even then not properly. The storyline was trying in that there was simply too much going on.

[Jerry]

Great! I couldn't put this great book down untill the end of the book.

[Margitte]

Another long-ago-read that I wish to reread. Just adding to my library for now.

I just love this author's books.

[Nancy Yesko]

my absolute favorite.

[Monica Komen]

so inspiring especially for women who face abusive situations and can do nothing due to their financial state.

[Megan]

very hard book to put down. I loved it!

[Peggy]

2nd one I read, and I really liked it

[Carobe]

Solens barn