Circles in a Forest [Mass Market Paperback]

Dalene Matthee (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Penguin (1984)
• ASIN: B000O85H38
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,621,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dalene Matthee, author of 13 books, is best known for her four "Forest books" on the Knysna Forest: Circles in a Forest, Fiela's Child, The Mulberry Forest and Dreamforest.

Dalene was born in Riversdale in the Southern Cape, South Africa, in 1938. She began her writing career with children's stories and short stories before taking on her first novel after a hiking trip through the Outeniqua hiking trail around Knysna. Her curiosity led to a journey through the stories and studies of these indigenous forests. In the end, she gathered enough material for four books.

Each book is underpinned by thorough research. Her books have been translated into 14 languages, and some of her books have been used as prescribed books in schools for over 20 years. Dalene has received various awards, including the ATKV Prose Award (4 times), the Southern African Institute of Forestry Award (twice), the Swiss Stab Award and the Department of Arts and Culture's SA Literary Award (posthumously). She is the only South African author of whom over 1 million Afrikaans books have been sold.

She died in 20 February 2005 and a memorial has been erected for her in the Knysna Forest. More information available at http://www.dalenematthee.co.za/english/index.html

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lyrical, complex and compelling, November 9, 1999

By 

J. Pugh "jimmie47" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circles in a Forest (Mass Market Paperback)

I brought back two copies of this book from South Africa, and have urged it upon many friends. Everyone says it is one of the most beautiful pieces they have read in years. The reader becomes enmeshed in more "circles" than than you will ever know. You will understand more about elephants and people who love forest and animals than you ever thought possible.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great circle, September 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Circles in a Forest (Mass Market Paperback)

As a German-speaking student I absolutely enjoyed the English-written book. It`s astonishing how Dalene Matthee was able to link so many people from different social origin into one community. But it`s far more surprising in which way the characters deal with the forest and Old Foot, which show to them, what they're on the world for.

People are here in order to help one another, else life will get unconfortable for everyone. Everything one does or avoids to do will once turn back in a circle and affect this person's life. Circles show to us, that we are dependent from one another in order to manage our life. They are a help as well as a hint toward our future action.

Circles don't happen but make happen. Saul doesn't want to follow his circle, but he has to as destiny wants him to return to the forest. It's Old Foot who made him return there. It was also him how brought Kate and Saul together and therefore closed a circle which seemed impossible at the beginning of their relationship.

After I had put down the book I observed my life from a different point of view - and got aware of the many circles which have closed in my life and are up to close in future.

It's amazing how this complex fact of life can be written in such an enjoyable and deep language as Dalene Matthee did in her book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended read, April 10, 2006

By 

Mr. Alex R. Wilson "lit snob" (sussex ,uk) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circles in a Forest (Hardcover)

Coming from South Africa I have been lucky enough to read all of this very gifted authors work in her native tongue but re reading circles in english just hit home once again how gripping her story telling is in any language. You feel the pain, the love, the hate all in one that the character has for the forest he was raised in. And the characters stay with you long after the book has been put down. If you liked this book trying reading Fielas child the only other book in english and if you understand afrikaans a must read is Toorbos (i think it was translated but not sure) the last book the author wrote about the Knysna forest before she died.