Between Sun and Sand: A Tale of an African Desert

audiobook

Between Sun and Sand: A Tale of an African Desert

by W. C. (William Charles) Scully

EN·~5 hours·23 chapters

Chapters

23 total

Preface.

0:50

Chapter One. - The Land of the Trek-Boer.

19:50

Chapter Two. - The Patriarch of Namies.

8:10

Chapter Three. - Max.

5:38

Chapter Four. - Spring’s Idyll.

10:29

Chapter Five. - Gert Gemsbok.

18:05

Chapter Six. - Too General to be Specified.

29:52

Chapter Seven. - How Jan Roster was Twice Interrupted.

18:37

Chapter Eight. - The Trek-Bokken.

13:12

Chapter Nine. - The Last of the “Old Woman.”

8:57

Description

In the unforgiving stretch of Bushmanland, a vast desert that kisses the Orange River, a nomadic community of Trek‑Boers makes its precarious home. Living in portable mat‑houses and tents, they wander the arid expanse with their flocks, chasing the fickle rains that briefly fill hidden rock basins. The narrative paints a vivid portrait of their daily struggles—scarcity of water, relentless droughts, and the stark, sun‑baked landscape that shapes every aspect of their lives.

Through the eyes of a seasoned Trek‑Boer, the story explores a world where hospitality coexists with superstition, and where the harsh environment has stripped away grand ambitions, leaving a simple, resilient existence. The author’s detailed observations of the people, their makeshift architecture, and the relentless desert climate offer a compelling glimpse into a forgotten corner of South Africa, inviting listeners to experience the stark beauty and quiet endurance of life between sun and sand.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~5 hours (315K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

Release date

2011-06-13

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

W. C. (William Charles) Scully

W. C. (William Charles) Scully

1855–1943

An Irish-born writer who made South Africa his home, he turned years of work as a magistrate into stories filled with frontier life, landscapes, and the tensions of colonial society. His books helped make him one of the country’s better-known literary voices of his time.

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