''Whitethorn'' is a 2005 novel by South Africa-born Australian author

Bryce Courtenay Arthur Bryce Courtenay, (14 August 1933 – 22 November 2012) was a South African-Australian advertising director and novelist. He is one of Australia's best-selling authors, notable for his book '' The Power of One''. Background and early ye ...

Synopsis

The book follows the life of Tom Fitzsaxby, an English orphan on The Boys' Farm in rural South Africa. It covers the period from 1939, when he was six years old, until he turns 30. The hardships of life in South Africa, the Boer Wars, and the Second World War are explored.

Reception and themes

The book was well received. Cath Keannelly praised the book, especially the detail put into recreating the customs and places from Courtenay's early life. Dianne Dempsey noted how the book contained autobiographical elements taken from Courtenay's upbringing in South Africa. These include the deprivations faced by Tom at his boarding school and the environment of early 20th-century South Africa.{{Cite web , last=Dempsey , first=Dianne , date=2005-12-17 , title=Whitethorn , url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/whitethorn-20051217-ge1fw0.html , access-date=2023-05-08 , website=The Age , language=en

References

2005 Australian novels Novels set in South Africa Novels about orphans