Lit in Translation

Praying Mantis

Bidsprinkaan

André Brink

Translated by André Brink

English editions

In English

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Comedy and tragedy entwine amid African magic and passion in this imagined life of Cupido Kakkerlak (c. 1760–c. 1825). An eagle brought him, and a praying mantis came as a sign from the gods. Famed as a hunter after the god Heitsi-Eibib meets him in the veld, and notorious for drink, lies, women and fists, he falls under the sway of Dr Van der Kemp and becomes the first Khoi the Cape ever ordained to preach the gospel.

AI-generated summary

About the book

Form
Novel
Length
251 pages in the original
Genres
Historical (assigned by AI)
Set in
South Africa
First published
2005 by Human & Rousseau
ISBN

9780798145244 (original)

9780436206016 (Secker & Warburg, United Kingdom)

9780099488941 (Vintage, United Kingdom)