The Bush Boys: History and Adventures of a Cape Farmer and his Family

"The Bush Boys: History and Adventures of a Cape Farmer and his Family" by Captain Mayne Reid is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around Hendrik Von Bloom, a Dutch farmer known as a "boor," whose life and adventures are set against the backdrop of South Africa's wild landscapes and the challenges faced by colonists. The narrative blends elements of farming, family life, and encounters with the region's fauna, taking readers through the complexities of frontier life during a time of sociopolitical unrest. At the start of the narrative, readers are introduced to Hendrik Von Bloom, an ex-field-cornet who has relocated with his children to the remote frontier beyond the Great Orange River, where he now lives as a trek-boor. The book opens with a description of Von Bloom's modest farm, the losses he has endured, and his aspirations for his family's future amidst hardship. The chapter details the family's dynamics, mentioning his three sons and daughter, Truey, highlighting their everyday life and struggles against natural elements, such as a swarm of locusts that threatens their crops. The opening effectively sets the stage for the unfolding adventure, establishing Von Bloom's character and the challenges that lie ahead as he strives to improve his family's situation while navigating the untamed wilderness. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Thomas Mayne Reid was a British novelist who fought in the Mexican–American War (1846–1848). His many works on American life describe colonial policy in the American colonies, the horrors of slave labour, and the lives of American Indians. "Captain" Reid wrote adventure novels akin to those by Frederick Marryat (1792-1848), and Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894). They were set mainly in the American West, Mexico, South Africa, the Himalayas, and Jamaica. He was an admirer of Lord Byron. His novel Quadroon (1856), an anti-slavery work, was later adapted as a play entitled The Octoroon (1859) by Dion Boucicault and produced in New York.