Percy Fitzpatrick

Born in 1862 in King William’s Town in the Cape Colony, Percy FitzPatrick left college after his father’s death and headed into the eastern Transvaal as a young man. Those years gave him the firsthand experiences that later shaped Jock of the Bushveld (1907), the lively adventure story that became his most enduring book.

FitzPatrick was more than an author. He was also involved in mining, public life, and the development of South Africa’s fruit industry, and he served in politics during a turbulent period in the country’s history. He was closely identified with British imperial interests before and during the Anglo-Boer War.

Today he is remembered chiefly for the warmth and energy of his storytelling. Jock of the Bushveld has remained a well-known favorite for generations of readers, keeping alive the world of transport riders, campfire tales, and the famously loyal dog at the heart of the book.