sadness in their voices and their eyes

Burger’s Daughter is the story of Rosa Burger. She is the daughter of political activists who were heavily involved and eventually imprisoned for their anti–apartheid beliefs and work. The title of the book is very important – Rosa is defined by her parentage, in particular her father. She will never be an independent person in her own right. She will always be a daughter.


‘There is no formula for dealing with death’

The book deals with death and violence, rape and torture. Rosa is honest and blunt when describing the life she has had and the things she has seen. She appears aloof and has no need for anyone. She does have a boyfriend, Conrad. She finds the relationship difficult knowing that she will never be a normal girl and struggling with the fact that Conrad says he loves her. How can he?


My time in South Africa is short. I don’t want to linger here, there is too much hurt. I feel uneasy with the book, uncomfortable to stay with Rosa for too long. I almost feel as though she is lying to me. Perhaps everything is not as it seems.

‘Sometimes he was not asleep when he appeared to be’

the navigator