Set in South Africa, Angola and Rhodesia in the latter half of the 20th century, against a backdrop of significant and often brutal political and social upheaval, this coming-of-age, novel tells the story of Blaise Cressingham who at an early age becomes deeply religious and dedicates himself to God and the poor and downtrodden, later becoming a missionary, and at one point almost a martyr for his faith. The book explores belief, the spiritual life and the search for meaning as we follow Blaise on his quest, and even as an atheist I can empathise up to a point. However, later on Blaise seems to be becoming a mystic and even to perform miracles, and at that point I could no longer suspend my disbelief and my natural cynicism. I’m sure readers with faith will relate to all this better than I can but by the end I was no longer engaged. Another impediment to my engagement with the story was the flat style in which it is written, a mundane recounting of events with little attempt at interiority or insight into Blaise’s inner life. The reader is always on the outside looking in. Altogether I found this an uninspiring novel although admittedly with some historical interest.

Once again Robert Dewar has profoundly moved me with this elegantly written novel set in South Africa, Angola and Rhodesia, in the final decades of the last century. It is an atmospheric bildungsroman in which Blaise Cressingham - the titular character - from a wealthy, white, middle-class family, finds God and follows his faith to help amongst the poorest families in a sprawling black township. He faces death more than once, from Cuban mercenaries, and guerilla fighters, and very nearly becomes a Christian martyr.
Here is a writer who understands life, and the workings of love and belief, and creates a poignant emotional truth, set against the real historical backdrop of a country torn apart by disgraceful racial laws, and a continent struggling to find peace and freedom in an age after colonialism. There are shocking scenes of brutal savagery but also heartlifting miracles in a story full of courageous acts of hope.
This is a beautiful, devastating, brilliant book, by an author who continues to get better and better.