Dalene Matthee – författare

Set in nineteenth-century rural Africa, Fiela''s Child tells the gripping story of Fiela Komoetie and a white, three-year old child, Benjamin, whom she finds crying on her doorstep. For nine years Fiela raises Benjamin as one of her own children. But when census takers discover Benjamin, they send him to an illiterate white family of woodcutters who claim him as their son. What follows is Benjamin''s search for his identity and the fundamental changes affecting the white and black families who claim him. "Everything a novel can be: convincing, thought-provoking, upsetting, unforgettable, and timeless."—Grace Ingoldby, New Statesman "Fiela''s Child is a parade that broadens and humanizes our understanding of the conflicts still affecting South Africa today."—Francis Levy, New York Times Book Review "A powerful creation of time and place with dark threads of destiny and oppression and its roots in the almost Biblical soil of a storyteller''s art."—Christopher Wordsworth, The Guardian "The characters in the novel live and breathe; and the landscape is so brightly painted that the trees, birds, elephants, and rivers of old South Africa are characters themselves. A book not to miss."—Kirkus Reviews

In Africa a child wanders too far into the Knysa Forest and never returns.  Nine years later, two government officials think they have found the child living on the other side of the forest.  They take him from stricken Fiela, who has brought him up, and give him back to his 'original' family.

'n Houtkapper met 'n rustelose siel. 'n Legendariese olifantbul wat losbreek van sy trop. In die groen skemerwereld van die Outeniekwa loop hulle kringpaaie. 'n Man en sy dier-broer. Saamgegooi in 'n ongerepte oerbos, wat stuk vir stuk deur gouddelwers, boskappers en ander uitroeiers vernietig word.

Karoliena Kapp is 'n alleenkind. Haar pa is vroeg-vroeg deur 'n weerligstraal doodgeslaan en sy het die bos aanvaar as haar oermoeder. Nog voordat sy twintig is, trou sy met Johannes en moet sy haar plek as dorpsvrou volstaan. Maar Karoliena gebruik die eerste kans om weg te loop. Die dag ná die troue weet sy: Sy het verkeerd gekies. Sy het van die bos af weggevlug en haar vryheid verruil vir 'n kou. Nou is sy bang, en sy vat die pad terug.