Under a Blood Red Sky by Annemarie van Niekerk

Annemarié van Niekerk returns from The Hague to South Africa for her gentle friend Ruben’s funeral – he and his mother were murdered in a farm killing. This journey triggers memories of other journeys: growing up in Port Elizabeth, teaching at UNITRA in Umtata where she became entangled in a relationship with a black writing colleague, causing conflict with her father. Then Hillbrow and Yeoville, where she and Denzel live together against the law, until violence penetrates their relationship.

The final journey is a return to Ruben’s murder and his killers, seeking understanding. Van Niekerk intertwines her story with an exploration of violence against women, apartheid and its legacy, guilt and powerlessness, and identity and complicity. Under a Blood Red Sky is a moving personal journey – from violence to mercy – masterfully told.