From a savage mission to some lurid rock 'n roll
Date of Review:
May.08.2012
Published Work:
Reviewer:
Andrew Donaldson
Source:
Times Live
IF YOU READ ONE BOOK THIS WEEK
'The Book of War', by James Whyle (Jacana), R140
A BRILLIANT, unforgettable debut. Steeped in carnage, Whyle's poetic revision of the Eastern Cape's Frontier Wars grips from the outset and soaks the imagination like blood in sand. A former cabin boy, stranded in Africa, finds himself in a company of men whose mission, to test a lethal new rifle against a wily Xhosa enemy, lapses into unbelievable savagery.
Link to Full Review:
A brilliant, unforgettable debut.”
—The Times, Johannesburg
About James
James Whyle is a South African writer, playwright and screenwriter. His published drama includes National Madness, an Amstel Play of the Year runner up, and Rejoice Burning which was commissioned by the BBC. His story, The Story, was chosen by JM Coetzee as...
Connections
Causes James Whyle Supports
Treatment Action Campaign, South Africa.