James A. Michener’s masterly chronicle of South Africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and ministers, the best and worst of two continents who carve an empire out of a vast wilderness. From the Java-born Van Doorn family tree springs two great branches: one nurtures lush vineyards, the other settles the interior to become the first Trekboers and Afrikaners. The Nxumalos, inhabitants … inhabitants of a peaceful village unchanged for centuries, unite warrior tribes into the powerful Zulu nation. And the wealthy Saltwoods are missionaries and settlers who join the masses to influence the wars and politics that ravage a nation. Rivalries and passions spill across the land of The Covenant, a story of courage and heroism, love and loyalty, and cruelty and betrayal, as generations fight to forge a new world.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener’s Hawaii.
Praise for The Covenant
“A prodigious endeavor . . . Nowhere else could an American reader unfamiliar with South Africa get so full an understanding of its problems in so engaging a form.”—The New York Times Book Review
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Great, intriguing and fast-paced novel. Flowed beautiful, he is a fantastic writer.
Good read…1200+ pages not for everyone
Typical Michener a great well written story of South Africa
excellent
This is only the second book by Michener I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last. It is verrrrrry long, like his other books, but is also so informative. I never knew so much about South Africa, but this helps me understand the problems they had & still have. It is wonderful in its details about the people, backgrounds, and story. …
Apartheid was a travesty, but the history of South Africa and how that institution came to be is an incredible journey. As with Michener’s “The Source”, the sweeping epic that is this story, is awesome. Since the novel ended before Apartheid was abolished, it would have been interesting to see what Michener could have added to the story with …
Even though a large book, it was hard to put down. Written by a giant of an author, I recommend it to all. So very wonderful!
Michener always delivers a panoramic view of history. Never disappointed.
Didn’t flow smoothly. Too many characters. Too technical.
Having been to South Africa twice, once in 1974 and more recently in 2010, the historical context of the country provided through Michener’s story telling is informative and compelling. The massive breadth of history and compelling characters makes it hard to put any Michener novel down. This is one of my favorites.
Mitchner always gives a quality read. I got a real feel of all the currents swirling around this amazing place.
Historical fiction that’s well researched.
Excellent read
good
Excellent!
A Classic!
Mitchner hit it out of the park again. Rey interesting.
Many characters are fictional. The book is an accurate and engrossing work of history.
Very engaging book – typical of Michener fare. The historical context, characters that span the generations and everything that leads us to the present day South African nation. Touches upon the regional history that Americans are pretty much oblivious.
Interesting all these later after publication to see an Afghanistan that has changed little. The role of the Mullahs, customs and culture. Beautiful description of the terrain and its cities of the past. Author got lost in a long dissertation on Nazism of the late 1930s and 40s. Other than that a good read.