The Sunburnt Queen
The Sunburnt Queen by Hazel Crampton, published by Saqi Books in November 2006, is a detailed exploration of a unique historical narrative. This edition spans 420 pages and is presented in English. The story begins in the late 1730s when an East Indiaman shipwrecks on the reefs of Lambasi Bay, leading to the discovery of Bessie, a seven-year-old English girl. Rescued by local inhabitants, Bessie is raised among them, ultimately becoming a figure of beauty and wisdom, and the Great Wife of a prince, marking the start of a significant dynasty linked to today’s Xhosa royal families.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of history woven through the oral traditions of the tribes and the accounts of early missionaries and traders. The narrative traces Bessie’s life and her descendants, highlighting their experiences throughout the tumultuous history of the Eastern Cape. The book delves into themes of survival and cultural integration, providing insights into the lives of castaways and the historical context of South Africa. This edition invites readers to engage with a lesser-known aspect of history, offering a blend of personal and collective stories that resonate through time.
Official synopsis Publisher
In the late 1730s an unknown East Indiaman smashed to pieces on the reefs of Lambasi Bay on South Africa’s Wild Coast. Next morning the local inhabitants stumbled upon Bessie, a seven-year-old English girl huddled beside a rock on the beach.
She was not the first to be shipwrecked on these treacherous shores. Many before her had starved to death, or been killed or cannibalised; some walked hundreds of miles to trading posts. But these locals chose to take Bessie home and bring her up as one of their own. She grew to be a woman of legendary beauty and wisdom, eventually becoming the Great Wife of a prince. So began the enduring legacy of a dynasty that extends to many of today’s Xhosa royal families.
Using the oral histories of the tribes, and written accounts by early missionaries and traders who met Bessie’s grandchildren, Hazel Crampton traces the story of Bessie and her descendants throughout the turbulent history of the Eastern Cape until the present day.
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