Echoes from the Past - (Brigandshaw Chronicles) by Peter Rimmer

About the Book

Book Synopsis

In 1887, a tyrannical father exiles his seventeen-year-old son from England. Against a backdrop of greed, the brewing Boer War and friendship stronger than blood, Sebastian Brigandshaw reacts with a desperate plan...

If it fails, he will go to trial and face execution. Sebastian left more behind than England though. He was also denied contact with Emily, his childhood sweetheart. In Africa, he has found another land to claim his heart, one that pulses with opportunity and where he can throw himself into new challenges. But there is only one Emily, and for her he gambles everything.

Spanning continents, war, political struggles, secrets, and a smouldering landscape beneath an infinite sky, Echoes from the Past is a tour-de-force of rich historical detail, the human heart and the forging of a new life in a harsh but rewarding land.

And gut-wrenching choices...

Review Quotes

When the micro surpasses the macro

A loving, productive multi-lingual multi-ethnic micro society develops on an isolated farm, only to be fractured by the Boer War. Male characters, even the grandfather grown "potty," are excellently developed. Though a long read, this book engages the mind on historical issues while forcing the reader to confront contemporary issues as well.

Very enjoyable

Peter Rimmer never fails to capture the savage beauty of the land. He manages to tell his story with a balanced viewpoint, between the Boers, the indigenous peoples and the British in their struggle for supremacy.

A must read!

A similar author to Wilbur Smith. Set in South Africa with very interesting characters.