The novel begins in South West Africa of the 1860s -- a time of upheaval and transition -- where Cornelia, a strong-willed coloured girl of Ooorlam Nama background, and James, a young British trader, have a short-lived love affair, doomed by the violence of colonial Africa's early history. The scene changes to the same location over a century later, where Julienne and Simon, both activitists in the 1980s Namibian liberation movement, are also drawn into romance. They too find their relationship strained and threatened by violence -- by the turmoil of modern racial politics, and in particular the revenge of Saul, Julienne's brother, who returns to Namibia after having been betrayed in the liberation war and imprisoned by SWAPO. But the resonance between these two sets of lovers is more than a coincidence, for Julienne is a descendent of Cornelia's, and Simon a descendent of James's, and Julienne experiences intense psychic visions inspired by her ancestor. The novel builds to an exciting climax against the spasms of a young country struggling to emerge from a century of colonial oppression.
ISBN: 1-84045-039-8
"A Small Space is an historical novel, a love story and an adventure story rolled into one. The love affair between Julienne and Simon across their 'parallel worlds' of different colours, classes and cultures, is adroitly woven and holds the reader's interest. This novel is also about 'space', that within and that without. There are many beautiful portrayals of the landscape. But 'space' is also internal. A Small Space is an unusual novel and worth the effort to read it either on or off the Web!"
Arts and Culture Review
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