Africa's Rose

About the Book

The South African system of apartheid was designed to exclude a majority of the population from the privileges and power given to the white minority.   As a result, non-white citizens of South Africa suffered and died at the hands of the white separatist government, which was controlled by the Dutch-descended Afrikaners.

    Africa's Rose focuses on the impact of apartheid on a privileged, white, South African family.  The daughter, who gives birth to a mixed-race child, is of English and French ancestry.  The father is American of white, American Indian, and distant black ancestry.  The journey of over thirty years begins at the height of apartheid and concludes with its dismantling in the 1990's.  The story traces the hardships created by apartheid on the each of the main characters' lives and the means each uses to work through and ultimately resolve those hardships.  Changes in the lives of the characters impact history and changes in history conversely impact the characters' lives.

    The principal characters in The Africa's Rose are:

    Kate.  The pampered daughter of a white South African family.  When Beth, her mixed-race child is born, Kate undergoes spiritual changes, becoming a strong and determined woman, dedicating her life to the defeat of apartheid.  When Beth is classified Coloured by the South African Government, she is taken to America to be raised by her father.  

    Angel Hope.  As the story develops, Angel Hope emerges as a mysterious visionary in the underground anti-apartheid movement.  She becomes a symbol of hope for the oppressed.

    Taylor.  Kate's first husband and Beth's father.  Just prior to Beth's birth, Taylor discovers that his great-grandfather was an American slave.  The pressures brought to bear on Taylor and Kate result in difficulties in their marriage  Taylor becomes a U.S. congressman and uses his influence with the Secretary of State and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, after Beth and Kate encounter seemingly insurmountable problems with the South African government.    

    Granny DuBois.  Kate's cantankerous, but wise, grandmother who, in the early years, guides the family through its most trying times.  Granny DuBois is the first in a line of four generations of strong women.

    Charles.  Kate's eccentric brother, who stumbles through most of his life as a spoiled, inept social climber and mischief-maker.  Charles' weaknesses and failures contrast sharply with the strength and accomplishments of the women in his life, upon whom he becomes almost totally dependent.  Touched by acts of tolerance and love, Charles becomes stronger as he grows older.

    Hannes.  A crusty old Afrikaner friend of Kate's family, whose fundamentalist religious beliefs cause a conflict between his conviction that the races should be kept separate and his love for Kate's family.

    Franz Bekker.  The Afrikaner Commissioner of Racial Classification, who torments Kate's family for over thirty years.  He founds a white supremacist hate organization, which continues to haunt Kate's family, even after the end of apartheid.

    Peter.  Kate meets Peter while he is a visiting professor of Shakespearean literature at the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University.  Peter helps Kate escape to England after Kate is banned (a form of house arrest) by the South African government.  The strength of their relationship is found through mutual compassion, trust and friendship.

    Beth.  The mixed-race child, who grows up to be a beautiful, accomplished woman.  Beth returns to South Africa at the end of the apartheid era.  Beth's strength and beauty, like that of the hybrid roses

About the Author

Tom Calhoun began his writing career in the early 1970's as a legal editor with a large publishing firm. He received his BS degree from Florida State University and his JD degree from the University of Florida. He now lives near Houston, Texas, with his wife, and enjoys being near their two sons' families.