The Settler

A powerful and disquieting novel about life, death, love and race in Africa - drawing on the author's personal experiences.

Set mostly in a fictitious African country, with the first part occurring briefly in London when the book opens with an assassination, The Settler concerns the life of a young white farmer who inherits a large farm from his Irish father.

He promotes progressive farming and works hard at integrating with the indigenous population, creating a harmonious atmosphere where strong friendships develop between black and white. As the story develops there is a growing understanding and tolerance between the races; however this status quo is threatened by a politically-inspired revolt with a black `villain' coming to the fore. The settler is changed by these traumatic events from which he just escapes, but his fellow-farmers and friends are murdered. He loses everything he has put into the development of his beautiful farm and has to leave Africa for good, completely disillusioned.

This is not a novel for the faint-hearted - the story develops through four countries and tragic experiences of violence, love, hate, and to eventual love again - but it is full of relevance to the Africa of to-day.