A Far-Off Place (Paperback)

~ Laurens van der Post (Author) "SO great and deep a cave, of course, had to be dark..." (more)
Key Phrases: great mining city, field flask, exhausted self, Hunter's Drift, Foot of the Day, Lamb-snatcher's Hill (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'With a loving, mystical awareness of the physical world, Colonel van der Post creates a compelling vision of small human creatures against a vast landscape...An infinitely subtle book' (Sunday Telegraph - Janice Elliot )

Product Description

The story of a long, perilous journey undertaken by four survivors of a massacre: a teenage boy of European descent, a young white girl, and two Bushmen. The basis for a major film release from Walt Disney Pictures.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Harvest Books; 1ST edition (November 8, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156301989
• ISBN-13: 978-0156301985
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #117,898 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #13 in	Books > Travel > Africa > South Africa
  #26 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > African > Central & South African

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story of Courage, Hope and Love, January 24, 2004

By	Gary Selikow (Great Kush) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

A Far Off Place is the sequel to the bestseller by Laurens Van der Post, 'A Story Like The Wind'. Hunters Drift is a farm in Matabeleland (today part of Zimbabwe)

It is the home of Pierre Paul Joubert known affectionately by all who live there as 'Ouwa', where European, Matabele and Bushmen live in harmony with each other , and with the great flora and fauna of Africa.
This is before the forces of destruction and death, Marxist terrorists, massacre the whole population of Hunter's Drift , as they carve a path of blood through Southern Africa.
The only survivors are Ouwa's teenage son, Francois, Nonnie, the young daughter of a colonial governor and his Portuguese wife, both murdered by the terrorists and Francois' beloved hunting dog, Hintza. They are joined by a young Bushman, Xhabbo, and his wife, Nuin Tarra.

The four young people and brave dog , must pass through bush and desert , to safety , while pursued by the cold-blooded killers.

'A Far Off Place' is a heartwarming story of love hope and courage, and of survival against overwhelming odds. It is about the fine balance between all living creatures.
Not least it highlights the death and suffering caused so many times by those forces of evil that hide behind the slogans of revolution and 'Liberation'.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!!!, December 1, 2003

By	Carolyntbj (Greensboro, NC United States) - See all my reviews

I read A Far Off Place while on a trip to Africa. Wow! I'm hooked on Vander Post! I read A Far off Place before I read A Story Like the Wind. A Far Off Place moves faster - the first book sort of sets the story up and gets the characters ready. Also try Flamingo Feather by Laurens Van Der Post.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A shining star, January 9, 2000

By A Customer

After seeing the movie years ago I finally came across book. I loved the movie, but the book even more. It was articulate, passionate, and though provoking. Van der Post expresses the emotions and actions of the characters so vividly it is as if you are there witnessing them. I read this before "A Story of the Wind" and did not have a problem understanding (although the movie background did help). A must read for all ages.