THE BOOK CLUB
Fiela's Child
Set in nineteenth-century rural South Africa, Fiela's Child, written by Dalene Matthee (13 October 1938 – 20 February 2005) tells the gripping story of Fiela Komoetie and a white, three-year-old child,Benjamin, whom she finds crying on her doorstep. For nine years Fiela raises Benjamin as one of her own children. But When census takers discover Benjamin, they send him to an illiterate white family of woodcutters who claim him as their son. What follows is Benjamin's search for his identity and the fundamental changes affecting the white and black families who claim him.
The novel has a major theme of racism, as white colonizers were against the black folk at that time. An example of racism in the novel is;
"You have a white child on your land and in your house amongst your children and you know as well that is not right"(Mathee, 22).
On the other hand, the novel shows a number of acts against racism and that defies the standards in colinization times such as Fiela taking Benjamin an raising him for 7 years. Furthermore, sexual prejudice is also potrayed throughout the novel.
This novel explores a good sense of racial prejudice which is effectively used by the author to express her message of respect of and equality between races.
The Racial Times rates the novel, Fiela's Child a 4/5, and reccomends everyone to read it to get a great understanding of South Africa, and how to act against racism.
The Ebook can be bought online via the following link on Amazon for $10.60.
Stay tuned for more awesome books to be read!