African Son
African Son by Azira Khan, published by Athena Press in September 2010, is a novel that unfolds against the backdrop of apartheid South Africa in the 1960s. The narrative follows Marion, a young English expatriate who emigrates to South Africa and marries Andries De Kock. As their life on his fruit farm takes a dark turn due to Andries’s abusive behavior, Marion finds herself entangled in a forbidden love affair with Sipho, the head gardener, leading to life-altering consequences.
Readers will encounter a complex story that spans three generations, exploring themes of motherhood, kinship, and passion. The plot thickens as Marion gives birth to twins—one black and one white—amidst the societal tensions of the time. As events unfold, Marion’s decisions impact not only her life but also the lives of her sons, reflecting the intricate dynamics of love and belonging within a racially divided society. This edition contains 392 pages and is presented in English, offering a deep dive into the emotional and social challenges faced by its characters.
Official synopsis Publisher
Set in apartheid South Africa in the 1960s and spanning three generations, African Son is the story of beautiful young English expat, Marion, who emigrates to South Africa where she falls in love with and marries Andries De Kock. The couple move to De Kock¿s fruit farm but he grows abusive, both to Marion and his black workers, and she falls in love with Sipho, the head gardener. A brief affair ensues and, when Marion falls pregnant, she has no way of knowing who the father is¿ Spirited away by the maternal black housemaid Josie, Marion gives birth to twins: one black and one white. The black child is passed off as an orphan and Marion returns to the farm. However, when Andries is murdered she decides to return home to England, taking with her Andries Junior and leaving his black twin brother, Joey, to be raised in South Africa by Josie. This epic tale of one woman¿s forbidden love, and the life-changing consequences of her decisions for her sons, is a powerful and moving tale of motherhood, kinship, passion and belonging, set amid the tempestuous backdrop of South Africa¿s racist society.
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