THE BEADLE

by Pauline Smith ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 15, 1963

A muted and somber story in the genre of the wages of sin among the farm folk in time-remote South Africa, by the author of Little Karoo. In the brown mud-walled hut lived the beadle, Aalst Vlokman, and the aging daughters of Piet Steenkamp-passionate, grim Johanna and gentle Jacoba with their beautiful orphaned niece, Andrina. This was a household of bitter secrets but in spite of the shadow of her mother's sin and the violent, unreasonable harshness of Aalst, Andrina blooms in beauty and love of life. Andrina willingly, lovingly surrenders her love to the Englishman, Harry, carries his child and sees him return to the English girl who claims him. The beadle, who was unable to save Andrina's mother from sin, cannot help his illegitimate daughter, and it is a repentant and humble Aalst who comes at last to see his grandchild. Although the story is rooted in classic gloom, and the conversation is relentlessly cadenced, there is a pleasing feminine delicacy in the telling, and a knowing structure. Family skeleton in a poke bonnet.

Pub Date: May 15, 1963

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Vanguard

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1963

Categories: FICTION