Poppie – Elsa Joubert

Poppie – Elsa Joubert

Some time ago I read Cul-de-sac by Elsa Joubert, her last book, and in the process discovered Poppie, first published in 1978 in Afrikaans and then in English in 1980. It’s also referred to as The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena and was made into a film in 2019 following a stage production in 1982.

I only discovered the full title in putting this review together. My copy is simply entitled Poppie and as I do not usually read the book blurb or anything else about a book before I read it, this one took me by surprise in terms of its focus. Poppie was Elsa’s fourth novel, the first translated into English (and then another 12). Her first novel appeared in 1963, six years after her first travelogue which appeared in 1957 – Water en Woestyn (Uganda en Kairo) – Water and Desert (Uganda and Cairo). I had been intrigued at her son suggesting that in her last years she write a travel book as that’s what she was known for – the outcome being Cul-de-sac. It now all makes sense.

While Poppie isn’t a travelogue in the true sense, there is much travelling that takes place – physically, emotionally and psychologically. I’m left with intrigue as to how Elsa, given the short descriptions of her life, was able to gain such insight into the life of Poppie at a time that South Africa was strictly racially divided.

Poppie was said by various commentators to ‘compare with Alan Paton’s Cry the Beloved Country in arousing white opinion against Apartheid’. Intriguingly, while I had heard of Cry the Beloved Country at school, I had not heard of Poppie. The outstanding Afrikaans novel I remember from those years was Dalene Mathee’s Fiela se Kind translated into English as Fiela’s Child and also made into a film.

I could say more but don’t want to spoil your initial reaction to the book if you decide to read it. It’s been another stimulating read – challenging thinking and emotions along the way.