Au-delà du silence

Sud-Ouest africain, début du XXe siècle. Des hommes observent, le sang chauffé par l'alcool et le désir, l'arrivée de bateaux en provenance d'Allemagne. A leur bord, des centaines de femmes engagées aux frais de l'Empire pour fournir aux colonsMore Sud-Ouest africain, début du XXe siècle. Des hommes observent, le sang chauffé par l'alcool et le désir, l'arrivée de bateaux en provenance d'Allemagne. A leur bord, des centaines de femmes engagées aux frais de l'Empire pour fournir aux colons allemands une épouse, et parfois simplement de la chair. Pour Hanna X comme pour beaucoup de ces femmes, c'est un peu le voyage de la dernière chance. Petite fille dans la grisaille d'un orphelinat de Brême, elle rêvait à ce qui se cache au-delà du silence, au pays des palmiers qui voient naître le vent. Fuyant la misère et les mauvais traitements, Hanna pense trouver en Afrique la matérialisation de ses rêves d'enfant. C'est un monde livré à la brutalité coloniale et masculine qu'elle y découvre à ses dépens. Violée, défigurée, Hanna refuse de se soumettre à la loi du plus fort. A la tête d'une armée où autochtones et femmes allemandes font cause commune contre le pouvoir des colons, la jeune femme organise une révolte, un voyage au-delà du silence imposé par la violence et l'oppression. En réunissant les éléments épars de l'identité d'une femme au destin hors du commun, Au-delà du silence donne la parole aux minorités souvent oubliées de l'Histoire. Un roman plein de bruit et de fureur, hanté par les images d'un passé peu glorieux. Un captivant plaidoyer en faveur de la liberté. Less

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Hilary G rated it liked it

about 3 years ago

I think I read all of the novels Andre Brink wrote about South Africa and the tragedy of apartheid. They were all almost unbearably poignant. moving and powerful. An Instant in the Wind, A Chain of Voices, and others whose titles I have forgotten. I haven't forgotten the. Read full review

Sue rated it liked it

over 3 years ago

Hanna suffered a lifetime of sexual abuse, first at the orphanage in Germany where she was raised and later in the homes of the families she was sent to work for. Finally an opportunity comes along to escape it all and she accepts an opportunity to be taken by boat to Ge. Read full review

Fiona rated it liked it

over 1 year ago

This book is in two parts. I could not put the book down for the first part. It tells the brutally horrific story of Hanna, a German woman in the early 20th century who had a desperately sad childhood and who sailed to Namibia, as it is now, in adulthood thinking she woul. Read full review

Liam Terblanche rated it it was amazing

over 7 years ago

One of the most disturbing, spell-binding, and tragic depictions of life in Namibia/South-West-Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika). A story not easily forgotten.

Bachyboy rated it it was amazing

almost 3 years ago

This is a stunning book in every way. It is disturbing, violent and intense and yet it is impossible to put down. This is Hanna X's story; she is a young woman shipped to SW Africa to appease the appetites of the male German soldiers. As well as its blatant misogynism it. Read full review

sisterimapoet rated it really liked it

almost 10 years ago

Very bleak. Very painful. Very good.

Sera rated it did not like it

over 7 years ago

How many horrific things can happen to one woman? Really?

Jonathan Widell rated it really liked it

about 5 years ago

When Brink is at his best, he is a brilliant writer. When he is not at his best, he is still brilliant. I love the guy. The Other Side of Silence (which I read in Afrikaans, by the way) is a boring book. I put it aside a number of times because it seemed to be going nowhe. Read full review

Ilze rated it did not like it

about 9 years ago

Recommends it for: Literary fundies

Recommended to Ilze by: I read the Afrikaans version "Anderkant die stilte"

The other side of silence is … violence, or as the author himself states on page 137, a result of that “incidental little appendage� to the male anatomy. This is a book filled with rape and blood. So unless you’re brimming with rage and hurt, it will be a pointless read. Read full review

Babak Fakhamzadeh rated it really liked it

almost 5 years ago

Brink is an exceptional writer with an extraordinary understanding of native southern Africa while superbly able to mix both black and white stories into a gripping narrative mix. Brink is not the only South African writer able to do this, but managing to bridge that cult. Read full review