Marguerite Poland

There’s something exquisite about the way South African authors deliver their stories to the world. I know it might sound somewhat biased, considering I am a South African myself, but I assure you that I am quite impartial when it comes to books. It’s simply an inexplicable phenomenon that I’ve noticed in good South African literature. Take, for example, Wilbur Smith: He’s a recognised author worldwide and he’s got a certain je ne sais quoi about his writing style that can only be show more considered South African. Lauren Beukes is another prime example of being able to capture an audience with that something-something that makes her stories stand out amongst others in the same genre. It’s rather chilling this uniquely South African voice that somehow wriggles its way out of an author’s pen, but it’s also incredibly refreshing when you’ve been binge-reading works from American authors.

The Keeper* by Marguerite Poland is one of those books that will make you realise the beauty of South African writing; the distinctive voice that forms part of a whole nation’s soul instead of just an individual person. It’s beautiful and yet it’s such a haunting voice. Nevertheless, it’s present. In The Keeper, Marguerite Poland captures this voice perfectly in her vivid imagery, her spellbinding plot-line and the bittersweet characters that we come to know during this tale. However, none of those things came close to the elegant poignancy of Poland’s words. Utterly, utterly engrossing from beginning to end, it’s as if I was transported to 1957 and could witness the relayed events first-hand. I could hear the waves, feel the wind, and taste the brine, all because of the incredibly crafted descriptions that Poland used.

If the plot summary doesn’t catch your attention – which I highly doubt will be the case – you might still want to get your hands on The Keeper, because this is a book worth studying for its impeccable writing-style.

Plainly put, I loved it.

*The Keeper is also translated into Afrikaans (called Die Bewaker) and is published by Penguin Books South Africa.

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I read Shades as past of my high school prescribed reading list. Marguerite is an amazing writer. She captured the era, landscape and tensions excellently. I feel in love with many of the Characters and still quote her often.

The character development and the unfolding mystery are interwoven in this story of life isolated on a lighthouse island. An excellent read as the characters really mattered, as did finding out the full story.

Taken Captive by Birds is a collection of acclaimed author Marguerite Poland's 'discovery' of birds as a child and the role they have played in her and her family's life. Interwoven with the personal story are the myths, traditions and meanings behind birds and their names within Zulu and Xhosa culture. The book is divided into 18 chapters, each of which loosely deals with one particular bird or, sometimes, a grouping of birds. The book is beautifully illustrated by Craig Ivor.