The Power of One

Courtenay, B. (1992). The Power of One. Australia: Heinemann

Dr Anne read the review in the Saga Magazine and bought it used on Amazon with its sequel Tandia.

The book is set in South Africa in the 40s and early 50s.  As she read chapter 1 Dr Anne did not want to read further.  She thought it was going to be historical description of the country and its people, slow and boring.  No it wasn't...

Pisskop or Peekay's story from the age of four through to the 'gap year' after school was enthralling.  He went from being bullied as a young boy by Judge the Boer and his Nazi buddie to developed the power of one - head first followed by the heart. Along the way he met Hoppie, the conductor on the train who gave him the desire and motivation to become a boxer, Doc, the music professor who gave him lessons in piano but also knowledge, knowledge, knowledge, Geel Piet the Kaffir who taught him to box clever at Barberton Jail and who died to keep his secrets, Mrs Boxall the librarian who gave him a love of poetry and literature, Miss Bornstein who taught him the skills for secondary school  and her father old Mr Bornstein, a chess player and tailor, Hymie the Jewish boy at secondary school who became his best friend and Rasputin who gave his life to save him in the Copper Mines of Northern Rhodesia.

This is definitely a 9/10.