Book review: A Rougher Task by DJG Palmer is filled with adventure and in the very heart of South Africa.

A Rougher Task

by DJG Palmer

Black Coffee Book Tours

June 25-28

Cranthorpe Millner Publishers

It is 1878, and beneath the heat of the South African sun, a brutal war is brewing. Yet for the soldiers based at the dreary maritime barracks of Chatham, the prospect of journeying to this exotic land is an opportunity they cannot resist.

Albert Bond, a young lieutenant and academy graduate, is plagued by his family’s ruin as he desperately attempts to cling to the status of his wealthy upbringing. Yet he is soon forced to reassess his aspirations, his morals, and his feelings concerning class and rank as he realises his growing affection for his handsome batman Jack Coleman. Jack grew up as the lowest of the low, but his social disadvantages fail to supress his optimism and willingness to take risks, attributes that Bond cannot help but admire.

As the two men come to rely on one another for comfort and companionship amidst the animosity and indecision of war, their relationship begins to shift. But in a time of deep-rooted institutional and societal prejudice, will their intimacy blossom into something tangible?

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About the Author

The author says: “I was born in Kent to older parents and a pre-war father who, having had me late in life, thought that boys ought to explore ancient ruins and read books about knights and pirates, rather than play computer games or watch videos, so I grew up exploring castles and reading dog-eared Ladybird history books. At the age of eight I opened my grandfather’s chest in the attic to discover that he had been an army officer in the Second World War, and was excited to discover his
baton, pips, and medals, but also to understand the realities that lay behind the martial emblems.
It was during the early years of manhood that I embarked upon Babanango, resulting unbelievably in fellowships of the Anglo-Zulu War Historical and Royal Geographical Societies. I then set aside military fiction for a time, enjoyed a subsequent career in policing and found love with a wonderful man, the love and bedrock of my life. The subsequent death of a friend, father figure and former officer provided my motivation to dust off the manuscript and revisit its contents, message, and the untold story of the many men who must have lived, loved and died in secret, serving in the armed forces.
This story is for those men, whoever they were, and the friends and allies who had their backs. ”

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Review 

When asked if I wanted to review this book, I was immediately interested. The South African history has always fascinated me and being a South African, it is always good to read how people perceive the country. South Africa is tamed since the Zulu wars, but the sentiments cemented during those wars are still very much alive. Gone are the days of non-existent roads, but the effects of these wars can still be felt within our borders. 

This book has been dedicated to the author’s grandfather, who has fought in the second World War. It is unclear from the author’s bio if his grandfather was stationed in South-Africa, nevertheless; I think his grandfather would be proud of the book from the author’s pen. How the author got to the name Babanango is unclear, but I must commend him for the research he has put into the book. It is the small things that are sometimes forgotten that make a plotline believable. 

KZN is an exquisite area in our country, steeped in history and breathtaking landscapes, and the rains are not unfamiliar to us. The lush greenery is a beautiful sight to behold, and the mountain ranges are spectacular. I felt sorry for the troops that had suffered through the rains in this unknown area as they embarked on their adventure. 

The book is a lengthy tale of Luietenant Bond who fell into hardships during this period. His only solace was to enter the war to save his life from total ruin. Meeting Jack Coleman, who became his batman, it was clear that the two would bond. The cultures could not be more diverse, yet the men’s relationship blossomed. Though very subtle, the nuances of a budding romance could be recognised. I enjoyed the many supporting characters that were introduced into the story, making this a very entertaining book. 

However, I found some of the descriptive writings a bit too much. A reader wants to get to the story as quickly as possible and the too many backstories stopped the flow considerably. Otherwise, a book I would recommend to every historical reader on the search for something different.

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