Country Life

Nancy Richards speaks to author Lynton Burger about his book "She down there", its inspirations and his life living alongside the sea.

The sea has always been in Claire Lutrísque’s blood. Descended from Canada’s native Haida people, she is hurled by tragedy on a southward path, to the warm waters of Mozambique, where she joins the fight to safeguard the region’s coral reefs. Navy diver Klaas Afrikaner first swam into these same waters on a covert military mission. Seven years later, he is languishing as a divemaster in the sleepy coastal town of Tofo. But the shark-fin trade is threatening the only thing that keeps him going. So he too must rise to his calling.

A shared love of the ocean and a deep desire to protect it brings these kindred spirits together.

Steeped in the myths of the sea, Lynton Francois Burger’s novel is as lyrical as it is exhilarating. Part ecological thriller, part tender love story,  She Down There  is a timely song to the world’s oceans and the creatures living in them.

Nancy Richards chats to author Brent Meersman on the subject of his new novel "A childhood made up: Living with my mother's madness". 

Nancy RIchards spoke to SA cricket industry icon Ali Bacher last year upon the release of his book "South Africa's greatest bowlers". She goes behind the scenes of his fascinating career and the stories that made up the book.

Nancy Richards speaks to Karina Szczurek on the publication of You Make Me Possible; Letters between herself and Andre Brink.  The interview covers her passion for writing, and keeping, letters.

Marguerite Poland is a South African writer and author of eleven children's books. Her latest novel is based on a true story in which Stephen (Malusi) Mzamane, a young Anglican priest, must journey to his mother’s rural home to inform her of his older brother’s death. It's a tale of going away and the difficulty of returning and was recently nominated for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Nancy goes behind the story with the author and discusses the themes that have resonated over a lifetime.

War as a psychological hell has been well documented from the side of men, but in her latest novel Borderline Marita van der Vyver gets behind the ravages it can have on the women who are left behind. 

Nancy Richards interviews author Helen Moffett on her book Charlotte. 

Author Carol Campbell has released her third book The Tortoise Cried its Only Tear (Umuzi) in January 2019. Nancy sat down with her to talk about her life in Scotland, where she wrote her latest novel and her love of the Karoo.

Prolific South African author Deon Meyer has just released another stellar book, The Last Hunt. It's the sixth novel featuring veteran cop Benny Griessel. 

Former director of the South African National Gallery Marilyn Martin has released a book about the history of this notable art archive. Nancy Richards sits down with Marilyn on the latest Country Life Podcast.