Customer Reviews

The Covenant: A Novel

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sometimes it's nice to read a small book, a quick 150-300 page diversion from the real world. At other times, however, it's nice to read a book with some real "meat" to it. Few big name writers were more adept at producing these meaty books than James Michener, and in the Covenant, he presents one of his biggest, a 1200+ page epic about South Africa.

As usual, Michener is not as interested in adventure or characters as he is with relating the history of a particular region. This is his formula: to cover a region from prehistoric times to the present, watching it slowly get settled and eventually civilized, though this civilization is often with a great price. This is not to say that he doesn't write a compelling story: he does, but he does not use heroes or villains to populate his world.

This is a good book, but a reader new to Michener should learn to try and not get too attached to specific characters, as Michener treats them rather unsentimentally, and they often die in undramatic fashion. Also, although there are some unpleasant people, Michener does not make them truly evil; he usually can show that these characters believe they have justifiable reasons for their actions. Writing as objectively as possible in a novel, he judges no one but rather allows the reader to make the judgements.

Many will be put off by the size of this book, but this is actually a reasonably fast read. In the end, the reader will feel both entertained and educated, and that is perhaps the best that can be asked of from a novel.

It isn't easy to sum up the South African story in a few pages. As a South African I've had to suffer an endless litany of populist garbage published on the back of my country's "flashpoint" status since the 1990s.

It's even harder for an outsider to fully fathom the bitter legacy which drove the two great tribes of southern Africa on a path towards war and reconciliation. But Michener, the consummate "citizen of the World", has again hit the nail on the head.

Michener has an unerring feel for the birth of nations. He proved it first in "Hawaii" but, for me, "The Covenenant" is his greatest accomplishment.

The story of the pioneering Afrikaners and their clash with the proud Zulu empire ranks as one of the all-time great "historical bookmarks" - and there's no one better to tell the tale.

I'm glad you came along, Mr Michener.

This most fascinating of books tells the story of South Africa in the form of an Epic. It traces the history of South Africa, from the arrival of the first black Africans, through to the cementing of apartheid (the book having been first published in 1980). To a certain extent, the book traces the history of South Africa through the history of a certain (fictional) family, the Van Doorns. As the story strides through history, we see the various members of the family born, make their mark upon history, and then pass on. Along the way, the story takes many sidetracks, showing the history of other people and groups that also affected South African history, as they also join the narrative.

It's hard to say too much about this book. It is simply monumental in its scope, and yet in execution it is wonderfully simple and easy to read. Having read this book (in two volumes), I now feel a much deeper understanding of the history of South Africa, and the varied people who live there, than I could ever have gotten from a history book. The book is very even-handed, showing the heights and the depths that people of all colors can reach to.

Overall, I think that this is one of the most important books that I have ever read, and certainly one of the most masterfully written. I cannot recommend this book enough!

This is a masterpiece. A masterpiece of history bur also a masterpiece of human nature. Often, in a 1200 pages book, the author loses himself (and us) with useless details. Not in this one. Each page conveys the essence of that book: The Love of The Land.

One would think that Michener came from South Africa since he depicts that love with such purity and such passion. He also sucessfully avoided falling into the trap of taking side which, when you write on such a contreversial country, is very tempting.

You will discover South Africa and learn to love it, even if you never have set foot in Africa or never particularly cared about that region. This is how powerful this book is.

Learn to love that land through the eyes of the Nxumalos, a family of Zulus who emigrated south thousands of years ago to find food and adored the land in all of nature's expressions.

See it also through the destiny of the Van Doorns, a dutch family who, exploited through many generations by a country ran by the sense of business, returned to the fondamental values of god and the soil and made this land theirs, convinces that god granted them this new Eden.

Finally, follow the Saltwoods, A family of English noblemans who after wondering what Britain presence should be in South Africa became part of that intricate cultural web.

No race or culture is evil, history dictates what we are and will be. Passing on that book is passing on a great opportunity to understand the complex history of a country rich in emotions but also in understanding the events that led to the Appartheid and racial tensions in South Africa.

Mr. Michener, while you are there, write us an history of the paradise !!!

In _Covenant_ Michener takes us to a society that has always been more complex than many would like to believe: southern Africa. I truly felt better educated after reading it. It is important to note (in case you're not very familiar with Michener) that it was written during the latter days of apartheid, when it was looking shaky but not yet tottering.

Michener's efforts to see the unfolding South African history through many different sets of eyes (of multiple colours) remind us that it is not only South African blacks who have many cultures, but whites also: French, Dutch, English and Germans all took root. The book does not minimize the historical origins and impacts of segregationism, but it has the breadth to see that not every European has always supported the apartheid system. We see that some have bucked it, and paid the price.

A weakness, in my view, was the lack of much real cultural depth on the widely varied African tribes. On two or three, we get depth; on the rest, little. The other is debatable, not really a weakness but a caveat to the reader: there are major events depicted in the book (such as the Mfecane, a sort of mass self-destructive movement supposedly sweeping through the tribes and depopulating them) that are now asserted not to have occurred. Certainly, when Michener wrote, whites were telling most of the history; however, by itself that does not validate or invalidate any of the history--it simply means it's open to question and should be investigated further. In that light, before allowing Michener's take on major events to plant itself as definite historical truth, one should take care to seek multiple viewpoints and deeper evidence than what is presented in this novel.

Recommended to Michener fans, those interested in South African history, and those desiring to see how religion can shape the very core of a society.

Although I remember hearing about South Africa and Apartheid I had very little idea of its historic origins. So if that is you - this book is highly recommended. The reason: Michener again does such a outstanding job of bringing interesting characters together with an intriguing plot that allows you to see how a historical story is built. What bothered me in this book is that I really developed a respect and liking for the Afrikaner. It just too bad he had that flaw that he believed God wanted him to live separately from native blacks of Africa. What I did really like is that the author finished this book sometime mid-seventies and could only speculate what would happen to South Africa and its apartheid conditions. Well it's nice to know in real life the situation unraveled to the best possible conclusion. But after learning a little of the Afrikaners background at least I could understand his mind set (even if I disagreed). The cultural pride of the Afrikaner reminded me of the Jews in Michener's "The Source." Once again this is a great epic which I hope everyone will read.

I read this book in preparation for a trip to South Africa. There are of course several things to read to get a better feeling for this complex country, especially Mandela's autobiography--but this one I found particularly helpful in understanding the Afrikaans story. The original Dutch settlers were fierce and courageous people who banded together against a terrifying wilderness, ultimately cutting themselves off from their European roots altogether. All outsiders--European and African---were suspect. Religious fanaticism also played a role. I was startled to realize that aparteid in its starkest form was only a 1930-1940's development, and that the descendants of the Dutch were still traveling around the countryside in wagons in the 50's. Like a few other of Michener's books I've read, the historical parts are the best, and the modern is more like an historical narrative--but I recommend this book to anyone who wants a relatively painless way to get a deeper sense of the history than any guidebook.

This is the 1st Michener I ever read. It was recommended to me by a native South African when I asked him about books that would help me learn more about his facinating homeland. I had been to South Africa twice on business and wanted to learn more. I throughly enjoyed this book. The beginning was a bit slow but it kept getting better as it progressed. I finished reading this book shortly before touching down in Johannesburg for my 3d visit to South Africa, and I must say it gave me a whole new prespective on this complex nation. If I have any complaints they are that the period after the Nationalist party takes over isn't given much coverage, and that after finishing the book I was left wishing Michener would write a follow-up that covers from the last 20 years!

It took almost 2 months for me (I am a slow reader!) to finish this colossal book. Even thoug I have never visited South Afriaca , now I would like to visit the exotic place some day.

The book covers mainly Van doorns, English and local tribes. Good exposure to Dutch culture and sad to know how they were misguided by the bible. When comes to aborigines I think Michener is at his best. He writes so beautifully about them, it is like travelling into past.

As the name indicates lot of quotes from old testament, I found that there are lot more quotes than necessary.

Michener warns in the beginning that this is nothing but a novel. But i checked some of the things on the net and they are accurate.

As usual there are a lot of characters and lot of sub plots, one tend to forget what happened in the beginning while reading the final parts.

I never read South African history as a part of my curriculum, so the book was a great source of information.

The book is clearly very lengthy and could have been reduced to 200 pages less. Lot of details about the wars between Dutch and Xhosa reduces pace of the book in the middle of the book.

Surprised to find that there is no mention of Mandela. Where as in the out-side world first thing comes to mind when mentioned Sounth Africa is Mandela. Gandhi has been mentioned in some places, Not much details about him but still to have him the book is nice.

Apart from everything why I have given 4 stars is because the book is a great source of knowledge. Since I am a slow reader and time is a constraint i have become very selective while reading. I expect more than just entertainment when the book size is 1000+ pages. This book gives lot of information about Africa, initial Dutch settlers, British and xhosa. When you finish the book you will feel very nice by having so much of knowledge.

Just before this one I read HAWAII, and liked it too. If you like COVENANT, then you will also like HAWAII. Great book!

I read Cheseapake before I read this and I was enthralled at the way history was woven into a coherent saga that followed a few key families through time.

But in Covenant Mitchener fails to maintain the coherence. At times the story breaks down completely and becomes a pure history book, or subjective narrative. He captures all the complexity of the situation in South Africa in the apartheid era, and if you know nothing of the political history it is a useful read, but in the end it is not a great novel.