The Covenant Audiobook By James A. Michener cover art

The Covenant

A Novel

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The Covenant

By: James A. Michener
Narrated by: Larry McKeever
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James A. Michener's masterly chronicle of South Africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and ministers, the best and worst of two continents, who carve an empire out of a vast wilderness.

From the Java-born Van Doorn family tree springs two great branches: one nurtures lush vineyards, the other settles the interior to become the first Trekboers and Afrikaners. The Nxumalos, inhabitants of a peaceful village unchanged for centuries, unite warrior tribes into the powerful Zulu nation. And the wealthy Saltwoods are missionaries and settlers who join the masses to influence the wars and politics that ravage a nation.

Rivalries and passions spill across the land of The Covenant, a story of courage and heroism, love and loyalty, and cruelty and betrayal, as generations fight to forge a new world.

©1980 James A. Michener (P)2015 Random House Audio Action & Adventure Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction War & Military War Africa Military Imperialism Russia

Critic reviews

"A prodigious endeavor.... Nowhere else could an American reader unfamiliar with South Africa get so full an understanding of its problems in so engaging a form." ( The New York Times Book Review)
Comprehensive Historical Narrative • Engaging Cultural Insights • Educational Storytelling • Sweeping Historical Saga
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Being a South African now living in Texas, of both Dutch (Arikaans) and British heritage, having heard so many family stories from my older family members, I was absolutely riveted by this book. It all tied in with all I had heard and experienced. I’m not young but left the country due to crime and the problems in South Africa. I did not mind the narrator but was so confused at the pronunciation of so many names and words! Could someone not have at least coached on the real way to say South Africa’s place names and more? Brilliant brilliant book.

Riveting

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Great story! Larry McKeever is the best narrator of any Michener book!! I look forward to listening to him.

I love James Michener!

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Michener is a great story teller as he weaves a compelling story around historical facts! The Covenant does not disappoint!

Another great epic by Michener!

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I didn't know Anything about South African History prior to listening to this. I'm sure there are people who would disagree with the authors characters and what they did or did not do, but I would like to think there were people just like that all over SA.

Towards the end I started getting a little dejavu in a more abstract sense to the current state of US politics (the increased temperature of things around an election period) ...which is funny because at the time this was written the author refers to Jimmy Carter a few times...not exactly current.

Great to learn some History via a good story

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great story that covers a key part of Africa's history but explains the roots of apartheid

A great explanation of the roots of aparthied

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I’ve read several of Michener’s books, and this has been one of the best. A thrilling start, and a moving conclusion that weaves all the stories into a concise, powerful theme.

Worth the read

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Coming from an American perspective, South Africa is not something that is even touched on in our 12grade curriculums. That sparked my curiosity. I stayed for the epic tale. Spanning generations, this will not leave you disappointed. And the story of Shaka?!? Fuhgeta boudit!

What stood out most? Tjaart Van Doorn, Mal Adrian and the importance of family traditions

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Any additional comments?

To fix the issue with the narrator just set the playback speed to 1.25x. Then he sounds just fine - no issues at all.

Narrator

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I love this book because I felt like I was in the book and I felt like the world was easy to handle in the timr yeays that wear in the book.
I felt like I was part of the book.
It was a great reed for me and I think it would be a great reed fore any one looking for a long book

The Covenant

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Another James Michener classic! Fantastic read! At 1,100+ pages...its worth your time and energy.

Excellent Book.

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