The Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner

Description

The Story of an African Farm is a book by Olive Schreiner, first published in 1883. Set on a remote farm in the South African veld, the novel offers a quiet yet searching portrayal of life on the colonial frontier, where isolation, hardship, and vast open landscapes shape both daily existence and inner thought. Rather than following a conventional plot, the story unfolds through the emotional and intellectual development of its characters, using the farm as a contained world in which larger moral and philosophical questions are explored. At the heart of the novel are Lyndall, an intelligent and fiercely independent young woman; Waldo, a gentle, introspective boy deeply concerned with truth, faith, and purpose; and Em, whose kindness and simplicity stand in contrast to the restless questioning of the others. Around them move figures such as Tant’ Sannie, the practical and domineering farm owner, and Gregory Rose, whose idealism and devotion complicate the lives he touches. Their interactions reveal tensions between duty and desire, belief and doubt, and the roles imposed by society. As the characters mature, the novel examines themes of personal freedom, gender expectations, religion, and the search for meaning in an often indifferent world. Schreiner’s writing blends realism with philosophical reflection, allowing ordinary moments to carry deep emotional and symbolic weight. The African landscape itself becomes an active presence, mirroring the characters’ loneliness, hopes, and moral struggles. Widely regarded as a landmark of early feminist literature and psychological realism, The Story of an African Farm was groundbreaking in its honest treatment of women’s independence and spiritual uncertainty. Olive Schreiner’s bold ideas and unconventional structure helped establish the novel as a lasting classic of nineteenth-century literature, valued for its depth, originality, and enduring relevance.

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Formats: PDF, epub, AZW3
Page Count (PDF): 179
Illustrations: No
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