Doyenne of the South African literary landscape, Marguerite Poland was awarded the 2021 Sunday Times/CNA Literary Award for Fiction for her historical novel A Sin of Omission.
The book was also shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2020.
“Marguerite is an exceptional author and human being and working with her has been such a privilege”, says Fourie Botha, publisher of local fiction at Penguin Random House/Umuzi. “Each one of her books speaks of her eye for detail, innate storytelling ability and the empathy she feels for the characters. She really is the granddame of literary fiction in South Africa.”
A Sin of Omission tells the story of Stephen (Malusi) Mzamane, a young Anglican priest, who must journey to his mother’s rural home to inform her of his elder brother’s death.
Stephen’s schooling at the Native College in Grahamstown and subsequent training at the Missionary College in Canterbury have caused deep conflict between his loyalties to the amaNgqika people, for whom his brother fought, and the colonial cause he, as Reverend Mzamane, is expected to uphold.
Poland is the author of the novels Train to Doringbult (shortlisted for the CNA Award), Shades (shortlisted for the M-Net Award), Iron Love, Recessional for Grace, and, most recently, The Keeper (winner of a Nielsen Booksellers Choice Award). Her non-fiction work includes the highly acclaimed The Abundant Herds: a Celebration of the Nguni Cattle of the Zulu People, based on her doctoral thesis in Zulu literature, and the memoir Taken Captive by Birds. Poland has been honoured with two Sir Percy Fitzpatrick Awards for children’s literature, an Ingwazi Award, and a SALA Lifetime Achievement Award; in 2016 she was awarded the National Order of Ikhamanga (Silver) by the South African President for her contribution to African languages.
ISBN: 978-1-4859-0419-9 (print) I ISBN: 978-1-4859-0428-1 (ePub)
Recommended Retail Price: R290 I CATEGORY:
Fiction
For more information, visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za
(artSMart owner/editor Caroline Smart has recorded “A Sin of Omission” for Tape Aids for the Blind and would urge those who are blind or cannot read in the normal way to register as a member of Tape Aids for the Blind to enjoy this book in MP3 format. Contact through the website www.tapeaids.com, email: director@tapeaids.org.za or phone the toll-free line 0800 33 55 22)
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