Welcome to a new edition article series here at Afterbreak Magazine! This is a segment that will provide book reviews with a special focus on African, especially Namibian, writers’ works, fiction or nonfiction.
In this week’s edition of Booked and Busy, we unpack the literary gold that is Lie of the Land by Jaspar David Utley. Utley worked and lived in other countries for over 35 years, 31 of them with the British Council. In addition, he served as the first director of the British Council of Namibia from 1990 to 1995.
The scene is set against the background of the German colonial wars in Namibia in the early 1900s. The central character is an academic in linguistics who occasionally acts as a British agent.He is a smart and reserved character who intrigues readers with his complex thought process. The novel is written in the form of an internal monologue where Utley tells the tale from the protagonist’s perspective.
He is uncovered in a meticulous way, allowing the reader to easily fall in love with his persona and the novel at large. He is a cynical, private individual who sees himself as a neutral observer but is eventually forced to take sides when he witnesses the life-shattering injustices of the Herero and Nama genocides. Utley writes a risky tale not from the perspective of a victim but from the perspective of a spectator to violent atrocities. Which, in a complicated way, makes him a victim too. It is rare that a spectators’ experiences to violent crimes are narrated; that is what makes Lie of the Land such an unique great production.
It is rare that a spectators’ experiences to violent crimes are narrated; that is what makes Lie of the Land such an unique and great production.
The protagonist character is developed excellently, and the reader is taken on a journey of growth, turmoil, and uncertainty.
The story takes a twist when the protagonist meets Leah. A brave Nama girl steals the Sam’s heart. Sam’s name is only revealed after he meets Leah, which suggests his story only really begins when he meets her.
Leah was a slave to the Herero for the majority of her life. Sam saves Leah from being killed, but as one reads on, it becomes apparent that Leah saves Sam. Interracial romantic relations develop between the two characters, which not only makes their love impossible and unlawful but also deadly. However, is love worth it if it’s not to die for?
The novel explores the shifting nature of the oppressor and the oppressed. With every page, Lie of the Land proves that there is indeed beauty in struggle without watering down or glamorising colonial rule.
Although it is a fictional work, it also enlightens the reader about the deep and dark history of Namibia. Reading about the genocide can be heavy and definitely requires one to mentally prepare for the triggers.
Geographic and cultural themes also often appear as Utley writes about the arid, mountainous landscape of Namibia and beautifully describes the scenic countryside. Readers are certainly transported to the past, when Namibia was still German South West Africa.
From the moment I picked up Lie of the Land, I could not put it down. It is, simply put, a profound work of literature that breaks boundaries, teaches, and touches readers beyond their expectations. I am of the opinion that it needs to be read and treasured by all Namibians, irrespective of their ethnicity and race.
