Publisher's Synopsis
FLAWED
Edward Horner was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but the spoon
is tarnished as he is psychologically abused by his father during his formative years.
As a result of this abuse Edward loses his self esteem and self confidence. This has dire
consequences in his later years as he squanders his inheritance due to his irrational
determination to prove himself. Edward's inability to confidently implement his
creative ideas eventually leads to his financial downfall. Edward's marriage to Cynthia
fails as he avoids the responsibilities of marriage and fatherhood. His relationships
and the various enterprises that he establishes all fail as a result of his lack of confidence
in his abilities and his failure to be forceful about his opinions. Frustration at his
helplessness and fear of failure become his constant companions. Coupled with this
is his failure to provide for his old age due to his incessant unrealistic imaginings of
success and wealth. Dream follows dream until suddenly
there is no time for another dream.
THE COLOURED CURTAIN
In the early 1970s, a nineteen-year-old black farm labourer, John Matlala,
leaves the citrus farm in the Northern Transvaal where he'd spent his
entire life, and travels to Johannesburg to seek his fortune. Unable to achieve
his goals by legitimate means, John teams up with a streetwise black petty criminal,
Jimson, in the hope of finding the wealth he desperately yearns for, through crime.
Initially the two young men prey on defenceless old people, pick-pocketing and
tricking them, but as their greed grows they turn to armed robbery, resulting in
the robbing of an elderly Indian tailor with tragic consequences. Running parallel to
John's story is the story of the privileged life of Herman Malan, heir to his late
father's steel construction business. The two stories merge when John and
Jimson attempt to rob Herman after he leaves the bank with the firm's wages.
Jimson and Herman are both killed when the police intervene but John escapes.
He flees to the huge black township of Soweto. Can John safely hide
in this huge metropolis?
