Jonathan Ball
Jock of the Bushveld, by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
Jock of the Bushveld, by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
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Jock of the Bushveld, published in 1907, has been read and enjoyed by millions of children and is now a classic among animal stories. It remains as fresh and exciting as it was when it was first written. Since its release in 1907 it has remained a firm favourite in South Africa and has been widely read abroad; it has been printed in many languages including Afrikaans, Dutch, French, Xhosa and Zulu.
Jock's owner was a young transport rider in the rugged and colourful days of the Transvaal gold rush. Those were the days when big game roamed the land and each sunrise brought a new adventure. Fitzpatrick first told his children about his adventures with his dog at bedtime. It was his close friend Rudyard Kipling who convinced him to collect the stories and record them in a book. The story of the bull terrier who shared his master's life on the veld has been illustrated with lively sketches by Edmund Caldwell. Fitzpatrick searched for a suitable artist to illustrate the book and settled on the talents of Edmund Caldwell, and he went as far as to take Caldwell to South Africa to see the Bushveld to ensure the authenticity of his illustrations.
About the author
Sir Percy Fitzpatrick was a politician, author and a pioneer of the fruit industry. He was the eldest son of James Coleman Fitzpatrick, judge of the Supreme Court of the Cape Colony, and Jenny Fitzgerald, both from Ireland.
Author Percy Fitzpatrick
Format Paperback
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Jock of the bushveld was one of the most popular books when I was growing up. This book feels like the definition of ‘Dog is a man’s best friend. Based on true events the author wrote this book based on his own adventures with his dog, but one thing to remember while reading this book is that it was written over 100 years ago.
The book does a really good job at portraying the friendship between man and his loyal companion. The story is set in the 1880's where people travelled to South Africa in search of riches, especially gold. The story has an interesting historic aspect but also introduces the reader to the themes of loyalty and courage. Jock's courageous feats draws from his loyalty to his human companion. If you're in the mood for a classic South African tale, Jock of the Bushveld is a good choice.
The book is known as a proudly South African novel, a try South African classic. And although if read now it may seem a bit out of touch because it was written in a very different time from the present. The author gives you rich descriptions of open fields and the bush, creating an atmosphere and scenery that the reader can easily imagine.
One of my dad's favourite stories, this is certainly a not to be soon forgotten piece of south african literature. It is so full of heart and emotion, and the ending is easily one of the saddest ever put to writing. Jock was the brave loyal pet every young south african boy wanted when they heard the story for the first time
Jock of the Bushveld written by Percy FitzPatrick is a south african classic. This novel is about a dog named Jock who lived in South Africa in the 1880s. I highly recommend this book. The novel is about courage, being the underdog and overcoming that to soar over everyone else while wonderfully illustrating the wild environment and its various inhabitants
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