Items related to Praying Mantis
In his early years, growing up on a Dutch farm in the deep interior of the southern African Cape, Cupido Cockroach became the greatest drinker, liar, fornicator and fighter of his region. Coming under the spell of a woman, the soap-boiler Anna, and particularly under the influence of the great Dr Johannes Theodorus van der Kemp of the London Missionary Society, whose own early profligate life dramatically changed course after a tragedy in Holland inspired him to dedicate himself to the abused native peoples of Southern Africa, he is then made the first Khoi or 'Hottentot' missionary ordained at the Cape of Good Hope. Received into the fold of the Church, Cupido passionately turns against all his early beliefs. After being drawn into the fierce struggle between the missionaries and the Dutch colonists, he rises to some prominence and is appointed as missionary in a remote and arid region in the North-western Cape.
But this also marks the beginning of his decline, as the Society abandons him to his fate. One by one, the members of his congregation disappear into the desert, so that in the end, abandoned even by his wife and children, he is left to preach to the stones and thorn trees and tortoises, returning to the dream-world of his people. In a heady mixture of comedy and tragedy, the real and the magical, and immersed in the ancient, earthy, African world of magic and dreams,
Praying Mantis explores through the historical figure of Cupido Cockroach the origins of racial tension in the shadowlands between myth and history.
But this also marks the beginning of his decline, as the Society abandons him to his fate. One by one, the members of his congregation disappear into the desert, so that in the end, abandoned even by his wife and children, he is left to preach to the stones and thorn trees and tortoises, returning to the dream-world of his people. In a heady mixture of comedy and tragedy, the real and the magical, and immersed in the ancient, earthy, African world of magic and dreams,
Praying Mantis explores through the historical figure of Cupido Cockroach the origins of racial tension in the shadowlands between myth and history.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
"From the stones of his country's rich, tragic, tumultuous history, Brink has built a novel that should nourish his reputation for years to come" (Donald Morrison Financial Times)
"Brink's lyrical but spare writing evokes the harshness of the veld and the dream world created by the Bushmen. A book that lingers in the mind long after you have reached the last page" (Daily Mail)
"A work of fidelity and imaginative freedom" (Times Literary Supplement)
"Brave, rewarding and dignified" (Time Out)
From the Publisher:
"Brink's lyrical but spare writing evokes the harshness of the veld and the dream world created by the Bushmen. A book that lingers in the mind long after you have reached the last page" (Daily Mail)
"A work of fidelity and imaginative freedom" (Times Literary Supplement)
"Brave, rewarding and dignified" (Time Out)
A magical novel from a world class writer about a remarkable historical figure.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherSecker
- Publication date2005
- ISBN 10 0436206056
- ISBN 13 9780436206054
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages288
- Rating
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
Praying Mantis
Published by
Secker & Warburg
(2005)
ISBN 10: 0436206056
ISBN 13: 9780436206054
Used
paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_390483954
Buy Used
£ 4.43
Convert currency
Stock Image
Praying Mantis
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Praying Mantis This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780436206054
Buy Used
£ 3.86
Convert currency
Stock Image
Praying Mantis
Published by
TRAFALGAR SQUARE +
(2005)
ISBN 10: 0436206056
ISBN 13: 9780436206054
Used
Softcover
Quantity: 2
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Befriedigend/Good: Durchschnittlich erhaltenes Buch bzw. Schutzumschlag mit Gebrauchsspuren, aber vollständigen Seiten. / Describes the average WORN book or dust jacket that has all the pages present. Seller Inventory # M00436206056-G
Buy Used
£ 3.03
Convert currency
Stock Image
Praying Mantis
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780436206054
Buy Used
£ 3.86
Convert currency
Seller Image
Praying Mantis
Published by
SECKER WARBURG
(2005)
ISBN 10: 0436206056
ISBN 13: 9780436206054
Used
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Softcover. Condition: Very Good. 280 pages (complete). Mild tanning, minor markings. Still in a very good condition, tightly bound and intact. MK. Our orders are shipped using tracked courier delivery services. Seller Inventory # 62kh
Buy Used
£ 2.48
Convert currency
Seller Image
Praying Mantis, a novel
Published by
Secker & Warburg
(2005)
ISBN 10: 0436206056
ISBN 13: 9780436206054
Used
paperback
Signed
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description paperback. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. paperback, pictorial card covers, a near fine tightly bound copy, inscribed and signed by the author title page, text clean and unmarked, 280pp. Inscribed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 218043
Buy Used
£ 7.66
Convert currency
Seller Image
Praying Mantis
Published by
Secker & Warburg
(2005)
ISBN 10: 0436206056
ISBN 13: 9780436206054
Used
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: Gut. Broschur Exemplar mit Gebrauchsspuren (das kann heißen: das Buch KANN normale Leseverformung wie Knicke am Buchrücken, oder leichte Nachdunklung o. ä. haben oder auch, obwohl unbeschädigt, als Mängelexemplar gekennzeichnet sein, ferner können auch Notizen oder Unterstreichungen im Text vorhanden sein. Alles dies zählt zur Kategorie des GUT ERHALTENEN). In jedem Falle aber dem Preis und der Zustandsnote entsprechend GUT ERHALTEN. und ACHTUNG: Die Covers können vom abgebildeten Cover und die Auflagen können von den genannten abweichen AUSSER bei meinen eigenen Bildern (die mit den aufrechtstehenden Büchern vor schwarzem Hintergrund, wie auf einer Bühne) MEINE EIGENEN BILDER SIND MASSGEBEND FÜR AUFLAGE, AUSGABE UND COVER g-085b-0224# KEIN VERSANDKOSTENRABATT !!! Sprache: Englisch Gewicht in Gramm: 450. Seller Inventory # 733170
Buy Used
£ 0.87
Convert currency
Stock Image
Praying Mantis
Published by
Secker & Warburg
(2005)
ISBN 10: 0436206056
ISBN 13: 9780436206054
Used
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. In his early years, growing up on a Dutch farm in the deep interior of the southern African Cape, Cupido Cockroach became the greatest drinker, liar, fornicator and fighter of his region. Coming under the spell of a woman, the soap-boiler Anna, and the great Dr Johannes Theodorus van der Kemp of the London Missionary Society, Cupido is then made the first Khoi or 'Hottentot' missionary ordained at the Cape of Good Hope. Received into the fold of the Church, Cupido passionately turns against all his early beliefs and is appointed as missionary in a remote and arid region in the North-western Cape. But this also marks the beginning of his decline, as the Society abandons him to his fate. One by one, the members of his congregation disappear into the desert, so that in the end, abandoned even by his wife and children, he is left to preach to the stones and thorn trees and tortoises, returning to the dream-world of his people. 2005. A trade paperback copy in fine, unmarked and unread condition. 2.1 Centimeters X 13.5 Centimeters X 21.5 Centimeters. Seller Inventory # 23195377
Buy Used
£ 5.32
Convert currency