Contemporary
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Mallaig Road tells the story of Alexander’s childhood in conservative 1960s Cape Town, his high school years in Johannesburg, and his early adult years. The story spans the decade between the Maclean family’s arrival in Cape Town from Kenya in April 1965, and Alexander’s first extended visit to Britain during 1976.
On the surface, Alexander’s childhood (the events of which – great and small – form the core of this affectionate observation of a boy’s life) is an idyllic one. But no childhood is truly without its dark corners, and in Alexander’s case, it is asthma which overshadows his childhood years. Furthermore, we observe the first early signs of a sometimes-troubled life to come, as Alexander navigates a path through his teenage years at high school.
But these early indications of future unhappiness are few.
Anyone who grew up in the suburbs in the nineteen-sixties (and in particular, in suburban Cape Town) will find much that strikes a chord.
Alexander’s character is not yet fully formed by the time he sets off on his first visit to Britain, in January 1976. He is still the somewhat solitary, self-contained young man he was throughout his high school years, but he is possessed of much charm when he chooses to exercise it. During the nine months he spends in England and Scotland, Alexander learns at last how to be a social creature. He realises with surprise that people rather like him. He returns home in September that year a far more self-confident young man than he had departed.
The story of Alexander’s life, 1976 – 2021, can be read in Hemispheres: The Life of Alexander Maclean, to be published later in 2022.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
A compelling story of a young man growing up in South Africa. In this splendid bildungsroman the author writes of a near idyllic childhood in Cape Town. The prose is engaging and enchanting, recreating a lost world of almost perfect innocence. There's a great combination of intimate characterization and descriptive scene setting in a middle class family enjoying life in a landscape still new to them. A text full of poignant, endearing moments and well-placed empathy.
Beautifully written story. I enjoyed reading about a Brit brought up in South Africa, as that is my story, too. The author has a good vocabulary and a pleasant turn of phrase. I am now reading the sequel, Hemispheres, which I also recommend (available on Amazon - paperback and ebook). This sequel deals with the adult life struggles of Alexander - the boy we met in Mallaig Road.
In this splendid bildungsroman the author writes of a near idyllic childhood in Cape Town. The prose is engaging and enchanting, recreating a lost world of almost perfect innocence. There's a great combination of intimate characterization and descriptive scene setting in a middle class family enjoying life in a landscape still new to them. A text full of poignant, endearing moments and well-placed empathy.
This book tells the story of Alexander a child living in Cape Town in the 1960's. The description of his day to day life is absorbing and interesting and sounds idyllic. However, Alexander has his demons and it is clear that he will have much to deal with in his later life. The details of the South African countryside took me there and I wished I could have been with Alexander and his friends while they explored it. The book left me wanting more and I very much hope there is a sequel
Mallaig Road by Robert Dewar is a compelling story of an African childhood, full of sweetness and some sadness. It is set, for the most part, against the backdrop of Cape Town. We follow a few years of Alexander's life, from the age of ten, when he and his family arrive in Cape Town from Kenya, and observe him growing up and learning about himself and about life. A deeply sensitive little boy, with a loving and kind family, who experience the range of family life, both happy and tragic. The story is free from unlikely human dramas, rather has a normality' one can identify with, together with a recognition of childish thoughts, thinking and emotions. Drama does feature, in Dewar's vivid descriptions of the country around Cape Town, which bring its rugged beauty fully into one's mind's eye and is deeply nostalgic for anyone who has lived in; visited the area and / or loves Africa. Mallaig Road is beautifully written, with fascinating historical and cultural detail and leaves you very keen to hear what happens next, to Alexander. I highly recommend the book.
