Sonne über dunklem Land

by Beverley Harper

'The poacher didn't shoot her. Bullets cost money and a shot might alert the rangers. . . On the third night, after enduring more agony than any man or beast should ever have to face, the rhinoceros took one last shuddering breath, heaved her flanks painfully, and sought refuge in the silky blackness of death.'In 1945, on a train bound for Zululand, two soldiers meet on the way home to their families, the war in Europe finally over. But in South Africa there are many more battles still to be fought. The seeds of apartheid are being sown in an angry nation, the fate of the Zulu people is as precarious as that of the endangered black rhinoceros, hunted for its horn. The soldiers on the train are already sworn enemies - one is black, the other white.Their sons, Michael King and Dyson Mpande, share a precious friendship that defies race and colour. But political greed, lust and a great evil between their families will test their friendship beyond imaginable limits.

Genres: Fiction, Africa

Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Beverley Harper was born in Bulli on the New South Wales south coast. In 1967 she travelled to Africa, intending to spend one year there. She stayed twenty, returning to settle in Australia in 1988. Despite loving the northern tablelands, the memories of Africa have provided the inspiration for her best-selling novels and she visited that continent for research purposes once a year.

Beverley Harper died of cancer in 2002. She rests at peace in the Africa she so loved. Her ashes lay by the Boteti River in Botswana, below a lodge called Leroo-la-Tau. It means footprints of lion.

She left a draft of her final novel, Footprints of Lion, which was lovingly completed by her husband, Robert Harper, and Peter Watt.

Reviews

[Susan]

I read this when I was in South Africa and it really added to the experience. There is a lot here - information about cane farming and rhinos, history of the Apartheid times, and, most importantly, a thoroughly engaging story. I couldn't put it down!

[Don]

People of Heaven
by
Beverley Harper


People of Heaven sat unread for at least a year before I listened to it. But it was worth the wait. I have rated People of Heaven as one of my all-time favourites and definitely the favourite of my four of Beverley Harper books to date.

People of Heaven had me hooked in the first couple of minutes when the author described a young rhinoceros giving birth, to the culmination of the epilogue. In between there appeared no topic was off limits. Plantation life and the treatment of native Africans, Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, inter-racial friendships in an apartheid driven era, sex addiction, guerrilla warfare and plain straight out murder were all dealt with in a way that was meaningful and realistic.

Jerome Pride, must be applauded for his narration of People of Heaven. Whether it was an Indian, Scottish, Australian accent or one of several South African accents he made them sound authentic to my ear.

People of Heaven, contains some lines and characters which, made me smile and at times those who made me feel sad. As a story, it flowed along at a nice pace and never did I feel that there was ‘padding’ involved.

At the time of writing, Goodreads readers have rated People of Heaven an average of 4.22 stars, from 173 ratings and 6 reviews.

[Yaya]

Seriously.. You just jave to read it.. Its one of the best i've read from Beverley Harper..

[Tricia]

"There is death and deception and a great evil. But there is goodness and reward too. You cannot change what the ancients foretell. Whichever path I speak of will touch the lives of two families, yours and one other. There is nothing you can do to prevent it."

I recently read a book that everyone raved about and I didn't like it so when I saw how popular this book was I was a little wary. I am glad I gave it a go as I really enjoyed this book. It hooked me pretty quickly and the historical aspects were very interesting.

The story is set in South Africa during the time of apartheid. It is about two friends - Michael and Dyson. One is a Zulu, the other European and a bond closer than brothers. The story follows their lives at they take different directions. One becomes an activist, the other a family man. A series of terrible events challenges that friendship in many ways.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

[Mick Russell]

Took me back to my Wilbur Smith days as a teenager. A holiday book.

[Lily]

A beast of a book about beasts, and about South Africa.

[Dee]

I loved this story, it was very different to anything else I had read but didn't disappoint. I cared deeply for the charaters and was captivated from start to finish.

I have heard Beverley Harper's style of writing compared to Wilbur Smiths. True their stories are set in Africa but that is where I find the similarity ends! Having devoured everything by BH I tried some of Wilburs books but did not enjoy them.

[Lorraine]

Well written narrative. Beverley describes the Zululand landscape in a picturesque manner. The plot is emotional, involving and very interesting. The storyline spans 2 generations. The author explores a lot of themes: family dynamics, racial divide, boy-girl relationships, sibling rivalry.

I read it in 2009 and was very engrossed in it. I am definitely going to read I again.

[Rani]

i thought that this book was fantastic. loved the storyline and the writing.

[Erich Jordan]

Great African story. After finishing this one I went out and bought myself another two of her books.