A Story Like the Wind

First off, it just shouldn't be this good. There is a lot the author does that normally irritates me to no end.

1) Paper thin plot - I could give a point for point plot summary in about 50 words, maybe 30.
2) Constant deviations from the story line to explain trivia about the characters
3) Totally explicit characterization and theme development - nothing is left for the reader; van der Post tells the reader everything.

And yet the book succeeds not only in spite of these things, but because of them.

A story like the wind (ASLtW) tells the story of 13 year old Francois as he grows up in interior Africa during the turbulent mid-20th century. His parents are educators who have run afoul of the colonial government for wanting a more equal relationship between Africans and Europeans. They set up a utopia-like community with the Africans and them partners in an enterprise rather than master and servants. Still, they retain some subtle Eurocentrism that eventually proves consequential. Francois, born late and the only child, doesn't really have the normal parent-child relationship with them (is there such a thing). He is raised by a bushman woman and Matebele tribesman with heavy influence from a white conservationist. As such, he comes to feel himself more part of the African world than the European.

The most obvious beauty of the book is the author's love for Africa. Details of the flora and fauna are told with such intricacy and personification that it is impossible not to fall in love with the place. The author really shows the complex life-death cycle of the African bush like no other. The only other novel I've read coming close to ASLtW in this aspect is Farley Mowat's "Never Cry Wolf" (also made into a Disney movie).

Surpassing the environmental detail, though, is van der Post's handling of sprituality. The book is a deeply spiritual book, though not in the classical sense. Van der Post weaves three entirely different world views throughout most of the novel. By the end two more are added. Details of the people and their values are treated with magnificent even-handedness and only the most callous of readers couldn't see the majesty in them all. Francois himself is is a wonderfully syncretic blend of Matebele, Bushman, French Huguenot and even Catholic by the end of the book. The only thing common among the beliefs is a deeply mystical approach to life. But even to class the book in the mystic tradition does it a disservice. Francois and his rolemodels are nothing if not pragmatic. There are sometimes when I was really expecting van der Post to venture into the realm of typical colonialist literature, but by the end of the book all this is resolved. For readers who feel any apprehensions in the beginning, remember, this is told from Francois' viewpoint. Characters and events that seem wrongly analysed in the beginning are reappraised in the end.

As I said, Disney made a movie from this book. Actually, only the last couple chapters had any part any the movie. Most of the movie came from the sequel "A Far Off Place." Anyways comparisons are obvious. I'll start off by saying that the Disney movie is still good and stands as one of my favorite family films. That being said, they took a very safe and simple approach. First, it isn't poachers that destroy Francois' and Nonie's families. This is a book about colonialism. Too avoid ruining the book for anyone, I won't say any more than that things aren't as clear cut, black and white when Francois and Nonie have to flee their home. The first couple chapters of A Far Off Place (AFOP) compound this even more.

Secondly, Nonnie isn't the expert on Africa. She is the newcomer. For the life of me, I can't figure why Disney felt they needed to flip-flop the roles. Nonnie isn't a stereotypical weak female in any sense of the word. Perhaps they were trying to be more PC, but they didn't have any problem totally elliminating Xhabbo's (the bushman's) wife Nuin-Tara from the story and she played a pretty big role in the end. I won't say I know what they were thinking, but it definitely appears that their cultural sensitivies extend only to Europeans.

All-in-all this is an outstanding book. While junior high could read it I think people with more life experience and refined concepts of spirituality would benefit a lot more from it. I've written lots of papers on mystic tradions and history of mystic thought in western religion for school. I'm fairly familiar with lots of different ideas, but this still blew my mind and made me think. I worry that younger people may focus on the details and miss the spirit of the message (explore the world, take nothing for granted, respect other ideas) and it's uniqueness. Ironically, one of the major themes of the book is mutual respect between old and young and I may be falling into this trap. At any rate, there isn't anyone I think is too old for the book. Do yourself a favor and check it out.


A white boy-man feels the soul and magic of Africa.   April 22, 2000
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I read this book because I am interested in the depth psychologist Carl Jung. Van der Post was a male friend, perhaps the only male friend, of Jung. It is clear from this book why this would be so. STORY LIKE THE WIND delves into the magic of the continent and its peoples though the story of a boy descended from three centuries of 'settlers'. In his life at Hunter's Drift, an agricultural oasis created by his father, Francois has become more a child of the bush than a European. The nearest telephone is miles away, but there is much to be learned from the bush. Even nature, through the birds, warns of great danger, and the boy and his 'uncle', Mopani the Hunter, share that secret. Soon a great black Seer senses the coming of an overwhelming evil. The next warning comes too late to help Hunter's Drift and what it represents. All this, especially the experience of the bush, is presented in a prose that at times turns into poetry.


Rich descriptions, wonderful story.   March 16, 1998
00dth@williams.edu (Massachusetts, USA)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

It's a shame that not very many people have heard of this book or its author. Truly, it is one of my favorite books--it's descriptions of Africa are beautiful! I have tried explaining it to people, and they have often made a face and said: "White guy tries to write about Africa." What they don't understand is that Laurens van der Post knows exactly what he is talking about because he grew up in Africa himself. It took me a while to read this book, not because I had a hard time motivating myself to read, but because I savored each passage and the imagery the book envoked.


One of my favorites...   June 10, 2004
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

This beautiful book succeeds on many different levels. Set in Africa in the early 20th century, the lyrical prose, splendid descriptions and fully-fleshed characters allow the book to transcend a relatively thin plot line. It is the coming-of-age story of both the young male central character, and of the continent of Africa herself. Savor and re-read it--its pensive beauty and spirituality captures me every time.