Kringe in 'n bos [Circles in a Forest]

Circles in the Forest is a vivid description of the life and times of the Afrikaans speaking woodcutters. Their intimate knowledge of the forest enabled them to sustain themselves despite exploitation by the wood merchants. Saul Barnard rebelled against the injustice inflicted on him and his people. Alluvial gold enabled him to amass a fortune to free his people financially. Interwoven are subtexts on the Knysna elephants, gold mining and nature preservation. The developing love between Saul and Kate is tenderly portrayed. The book is suitable for the general public. I chose the book to read to my grandchildren after we had visited the Knysna forest and the remnants of the gold mines

I read it at high school and liked it, but off course as a child you can’t grasp at everything. Now as an adult I read it agin and loved it all over again. Reading it (in AFRIKAANS )to my mostly English children, they can’t get enough. When we are back in SA we will go to Knysna and be sad for Oupoot. Humans was despicable in the 1800’s and if those people thought humanity got better they are better off at rest. HOW SAD.DANKIE YOU DALENE MATTHEE vir jou awesome skryf.

I read this book at school, but only years later when I visited the Knysna forest were the writer(Dalene Matthee) got her inspiration from, was I able to appreciate the story so much more. Seeing those enormous trees from her book makes you feel like a small ant in the long shadows they cast.

One of the BEST writers and series in Afrikaans.

Wonderful book! One of the best books written in Afrikaans in my opinion.

A book capturing a captivating time when man started logging hardwood trees and poaching elephants in the Knysna forest in South Africa. Very well researched and written.

One of Dalene Mathee's many great novels. Can't wait to read the rest of her series set in the Knysna forest.

Love it, was like be back home in South Africa.

Heart-wrenchingly beautiful and haunting - took over from The Goldfinch as my best book of 2015 so far.HIGHLY recommended.

sehr guter Einstieg für Afrkaans Lernende, Sprache ist allerdings bzgl. der Zeit, in der die Geschichte spielt, teils etwas "veraltet".