Tales of the Metric System

The novel "Tales of the Metric System" shows how ten days spread across four decades send tidal waves through the lives of South Africans.
26152
978-1-4152-0723-9
In stock
new
€24.80 *

Title: Tales of the Metric System
Author: Imraan Coovadia
Genre: Novel
Publisher: Random House Struik
Imprint: Umuzi
Cape Town, South Africa 2014
ISBN 9781415207239 / ISBN 978-1-4152-0723-9
Hardcover, dustjacket, 15 x 22 cm, 400 pages

Description:

All kind of characters, all caught in their individual stories, burst from the pages of Imraan Coovadia’s Tales of the Metric System as it measures South Africa’s modern history in its own remarkable units of imagination. This one is from "1970: School Time". The Jaguar wouldn't start. Ann sat behind the leather I steering wheel and watched the ruby-red light fade in the dashboard. Neil's late mother had donated the car to them at a time when she had been lying in a hospital and writing letters to parliament in fountain pen despite a catheter in the neck. It was difficult to refuse her mother-in-law's gifts. Sometimes the old woman seemed to have crockery in her face. Ann spied her neighbour on the porch. She got out of the car and tried to attract his attention. Mackenzie was her shot. He liked to help her. When the mains tripped Mackenzie had his man bring the step ladder and climbed up to the panel. He would reset the stiff green switches, one by one, until he found the broken fuse. In July the Security Branch had arrived while Neil was away. Mackenzie had sat in the lounge for moral support. He had read his own magazines on the couch, Scope, for men, and Creamer's Illustrated News, an engineering gazette, while the policemen had examined Neil's desk, checked the numbers circled in the directory, and searched the cupboards. Mackenzie brought his servant, a muscular old man who must have been in his sixties and who sat perfectly upright in the back of the Hillman Avenger when accompanying his employer. [...]