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Broken Earth by Tatamkhulu Afrika
Broken Earth is the first novel by South African writer Tatamkhulu Afrika, though it was published under his birth name, Ismail Joubert. Published in 1940, it's a coming-of-age story set in South Africa's Northern Transvaal (now Limpopo) province, a region Afrika was fond of.
There's not a lot of information readily available about the plot of the book itself. It is described as an English romance, and Afrika is known for his evocative descriptions of the South African landscape.
Additional information
Here's some additional information about the book:
It was a relatively quick work, written in just three months by the then 17-year-old Afrika.
It was a long time before Afrika published again. He didn't release another work until over 50 years later.
There are very few copies of Broken Earth in existence. Two are known to be held in South African libraries.
If you're interested in learning more about the book, you might try contacting the Grahamstown Literary Museum or the Johannesburg Central Library, which are the two institutions known to hold copies.
Themes
Due to the obscurity of Broken Earth, pinpointing its exact themes is difficult. However, based on what we know about the book, here are some of the themes:
Coming-of-Age: As a story following a young man's experiences in South Africa's Northern Transvaal, it explores themes of self-discovery, navigating challenges, and the transition into adulthood.
Nature: Afrika is known for his evocative descriptions of the South African landscape. Broken Earth likely explore themes of connection to nature, the influence of the environment on the protagonist, or the beauty and harshness of the natural world.
Love and Relationships: Described as an English romance, the book explore themes of love, loss, and the complexities of relationships.
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