Book Review – A Bosman Companion

A Bosman Companion by Craig Mackenzie & Tim Sandham (Human & Rosseau) ISBN 9780798152532

Herman Charles Bosman is one of South Africa’s best known authors and story tellers. His creation Oom Schalk Lourens, an old Boer farmer, is undoubtedly one of the best loved characters in South African literature.

A Bosman Companion covers all aspects of Bosman’s life and work in short, informative, alphabetically arranged entries.

This alphabet of Bosman’s life and times covers even the unseen drawings that he did which are so precious. Personal memories of how when he was late for Jeppe School, he told the teacher he had to chop wood first thing every morning.  Most of the boys came from middle class homes and laughed at his explanation. No matter where he was he was always the odd man out and yet he did so well in life.

However there is more than just Bosman here. The dictionary of South African words made me remember all sorts of sayings when I was growing up in the Free State. What a lot of hard work went into this wonderful book, along with insight into the character and great respect and love for his memory.

This should be in every Bosman collection. Craig MacKenzie edited 10 volumes of Bosman’s stories amongst many other works, and he and Tim Sandham a teacher, a TV writer a part time playwright, are the authors of this book.

Dee Andrew

5/5