Eye Brother Horn

In 1870s South Africa, Moses, a Zulu baby found on a riverbank, and Daniel, the son of white missionaries, are raised as brothers on the Umzinyathi mission. Despite efforts by their adoptive mother to raise them as equals, Moses feels like an outsider to both white and Zulu society. When they leave the mission to work on a relatives sugar estate, they are thrown into a world that sees their bond as a threat to the colonial order. Eye Brother Horn is a heart-wrenching story of how two children strive to forge a true brotherhood and heal the wounds inflicted by colonial expansion.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2023
Publisher: Catalyst Books

Bridget Pitt, a Commonwealth Book Prize shortlisted author, has crafted a captivating tale that delves into the complexities of identity, kinship, and atonement set against the backdrop of 1870s South Africa. The novel revolves around Moses, a Zulu baby discovered on a riverbank, and Daniel, the son of white missionaries, who are raised as brothers on the Umzinyathi mission in 19th-century Zululand, South Africa. Despite their different backgrounds, the boys form an intense bond that challenges the religious dogma they are raised with.

As infants, Daniel narrowly escapes an attack by a rhino, developing a profound connection to animals that conflicts with the religious teachings he is subjected to. Despite his adoptive mother's efforts to raise the boys as equals, Moses feels like an outsider in both white and Zulu society, seeking solace in astronomy and science. It is through their bond that the brothers find a sense of belonging.

At Umzinyathi, Moses and Daniel are shielded from the harsh realities of the expanding colony in neighboring Natal, where ancient spiritualism is being demonized, vast natural beauty faces relentless destruction, and the wealth of the colonizer hinges on the engineered impoverishment of the indigenous. However, when they leave the mission to work on a relative's sugar estate and accompany him on a hunting safari, they are thrust into a world that perceives their bond as a threat to the colonial order. Faced with an impossible choice, the boys must decide whether to conform to societal expectations or stay true to each other.

Eye Brother Horn incorporates elements of magic realism, adding depth and richness to the narrative. It is a heart-wrenching story of how two children born of vastly different worlds strive to forge a true brotherhood with each other and with others. Through their struggles and triumphs, Pitt explores the complexities of identity, kinship, and the search for belonging in a world that often seeks to divide.

In conclusion, Eye Brother Horn is a captivating novel that delves into the complexities of identity, kinship, and atonement set against the backdrop of 1870s South Africa. Through the lives of Moses and Daniel, Pitt explores the challenges of belonging and the power of love and acceptance to bridge gaps between different worlds. The novel's blend of magic realism and historical detail makes it a compelling and thought-provoking read that will leave readers reflecting on the importance of understanding and embracing diversity.

Weight: 466g
Dimension: 139 x 216 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781946395764