‘We are delighted to publish these first three African Classics titles under our Ad Donker imprint. These timeless books have shaped our literary heritage for over a century. We hope they will be embraced and read by a new generation of readers.’– Jeremy Boraine, Publishing Director
Set against the rugged landscape of the South African bushveld during the gold rush of the 1880s, Jock of the Bushveld is the unforgettable true story of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick and his loyal dog, Jock.
Rescued as the runt of a litter, Jock grows into a brave and devoted companion, accompanying Fitzpatrick through the dangers and adventures of life as an ox-wagon transport rider in the old Transvaal. From encounters with wild animals to the daily challenges of a harsh and unpredictable land, their journey is one of courage, resilience and unwavering loyalty.
First published in 1907, this much-loved South African classic has captured the hearts of generations. At its core, it is a timeless story of friendship and the extraordinary bond between human and animal – as powerful today as it was over a century ago.
SIR PERCY FITZPATRICK was born in King William’s Town in 1862. Always active in politics, he also found time to write several books besides the classic Jock of the Bushveld. His first book, Through Mashonaland with Pick and Pen, was published in 1892, followed by The Outspan: Tales of South Africa (1897) and The Transvaal from Within (1899). He died on his Eastern Cape Farm, Amanzi, in 1931, where he is buried.
Set in the stark, beautiful landscape of the Karoo, The Story of an African Farm is Olive Schreiner’s landmark novel and a cornerstone of South African literature. First published in 1883 under the pseudonym Ralph Iron, it startled Victorian readers with its bold questioning of religion, gender roles and the social structures of colonial society.
At its heart are the intertwined lives of Lyndall and Waldo – kindred spirits bound by a shared longing for meaning, freedom and self realisation. Through their journeys, Schreiner explores the tensions between duty and desire, belief and doubt, and the constraints placed on those who dare to imagine a different life.
Both deeply personal and quietly radical, this pioneering novel remains as thought-provoking today as it was on first publication. It is a powerful meditation on identity, independence and the search for a more authentic way of being.
OLIVE SCHREINER was born in 1855 in the Eastern Cape. A pioneering South African writer, she is best known for her landmark novel The Story of an African Farm, first published in 1883 under the pseudonym Ralph Iron. She worked as a governess before travelling to England, where she became involved in intellectual and political circles. A passionate advocate for women’s rights and social justice, her writing explores themes of gender, religion and society. She also published essays and political works, including Dreams (1890) and Woman and Labour (1911). She died in 1920. Her unfinished work Van Man Tot Man has been translated into Afrikaans (2026).
Mhudi by Sol T. Plaatje, first published in 1930, is widely regarded as the first novel written in English by a Black South African.
Set in the early nineteenth century against a backdrop of war, migration and upheaval, it tells the story of Mhudi, a courageous young woman who survives the destruction of her people and embarks on a journey of resilience, love and rebuilding. Alongside her husband, Ra-Thaga, she navigates a changing and often hostile landscape, forging unexpected alliances and holding onto hope in the face of profound loss.
Both an epic romance and a powerful historical narrative, Mhudi is a pioneering work of South African literature. Rich in imagination and insight, it offers a deeply human perspective on a turbulent period in the country’s past, and remains as significant and moving today as when it was first published.
SOL T. PLAATJE was born in 1876 near Boshoff in the Orange Free State. A writer, journalist and political leader, he was a founding member and the first General Secretary of the African National Congress in 1912. He worked as a court interpreter in Mafeking and later edited newspapers in English and Setswana. He is best known for Mhudi (1930), widely regarded as the first novel in English by a Black South African. In addition to his original writing, he translated several of William Shakespeare’s works into Setswana. He died in Kimberley in 1932.