| Interview with Peter Daviesauthor of Scatterlings of | | | | profound. Would you comment? |
| Africa | | | | Peter: Yes, I'm glad that many readers have found |
| Literally Publishing Limited (2006) | | | | this and delighted that you asked the question. I |
| ISBN 9780955440908 | | | | wanted Scatterlings of Africa to appeal to both men |
| Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for | | | | and women readers. I also wanted it to be a story |
| Reader Views (4/07) | | | | about people and how they're affected by war - not |
| Today, Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor of Reader | | | | just a book about war. So I worked hard at taking |
| Views talks with Peter Davies, author of the action | | | | my readers deep into each main character's |
| adventure novel "Scatterlings of Africa." | | | | viewpoint - to become one with each character and |
| Born and raised in Africa, Peter Davies served as a | | | | to understand what he or she was feeling and why |
| territorial soldier in Rhodesia from 1963 to 1975. He | | | | they were acting they way they did. Readers will be |
| saw action, and took part in captures and | | | | able to understand what motivates the terrorist, |
| interrogation. This gave him insight into terrorist | | | | Gadziwa - why he's fighting for his cause, his country |
| minds, many of which were successfully encouraged | | | | - the Zimbabwe that belonged to his ancestors. And |
| to 'turn' and fight alongside Rhodesia's soldiers against | | | | why Cartwright is equally determined to fight for his |
| their former comrades. Davies wrote his novel, | | | | country - the Rhodesia where his settler |
| "Scatterlings of Africa," using his own recollections of | | | | grandparents and parents carved out a living for |
| how the war was fought, and how it affected | | | | themselves from the barren bush. Gosh, that sounds |
| Rhodesia and its people. | | | | a bit like the American West doesn't it? I want my |
| Juanita: Welcome to Reader Views Peter, and thanks | | | | readers to be able to feel as if they're living in |
| for the opportunity to talk with you today about | | | | Rhodesia in the 1970s, experiencing some of what |
| your new novel "Scatterlings of Africa." Your story | | | | people felt during that earlier war against terror. |
| takes place in 60's-70's Rhodesia. Would you paint a | | | | Juanita: What is the take home message of your |
| picture of this area for readers, and tell us what was | | | | book? |
| happening politically in the region? | | | | Peter: Mostly that there's more to what happened in |
| Peter: Well, thank you for inviting me, Juanita. As you | | | | Rhodesia than the media and governments of the |
| know; after almost fifteen years of war, Rhodesia | | | | West would like people to know. In reality, there are |
| fell under the grip of Marxist dictator Mugabe who | | | | many sides to the story. And your reviewer, Simon |
| changed its name to Zimbabwe in 1980. But | | | | Barrett recognised the link between what's happening |
| Scatterlings of Africa takes you back to December | | | | in the world today and what happened in Rhodesia |
| 1972 in Rhodesia's Zambezi Valley. At that time, the | | | | way back in the 1970s. I see the same cynical |
| Valley was full of animals that were wild and free - it | | | | manipulation of the media - propaganda, and similar |
| was what was known as a 'protected hunting area', | | | | terror tactics being used in the wars of Afghanistan |
| not one of the relatively tame 'game reserves' that | | | | and Iraq as those used by Mugabe and his insurgents |
| most people see. I had many encounters with lions, | | | | in Rhodesia. |
| elephants, buffalo and other big game in addition to all | | | | Juanita: The rawness of your story that exposes the |
| the usual smaller stuff like wart hogs, antelope, etc. in | | | | reality of violence/turmoil in Africa and juxtaposes it |
| this beautiful but wild part of the Valley. Scorpions, | | | | with love/romance is an interesting statement in |
| tsetse fly and other nasty insects abounded and | | | | itself. Would you elaborate? Do you think this |
| there was abundant bird life. | | | | dichotomy is true to the African experience? |
| Sadly, a civil war was getting underway, and the | | | | Peter: Great question - you really have hit the nail on |
| Zambezi Valley; Rhodesia's north eastern border with | | | | the head. I've tried to take the tragedy of Rhodesia |
| Zambia and Mozambique, was the route insurgents | | | | and make it into a readable novel that will entertain |
| used to gain access to the more populated areas of | | | | as well as educate. After all, we who lived through it |
| Rhodesia up on the highveld. | | | | had good times as well as bad - mostly good times |
| In 1965, Rhodesia's government had declared | | | | until near the end. Of course love happens during |
| independence from the United Kingdom. Radical black | | | | terrible times... I think love is even more intense; |
| African politicians were not satisfied with the slow | | | | people's inhibitions become less constraining. |
| progress being made by the mainly white Rhodesian | | | | Juanita: Many readers of your book remark that your |
| government towards universal franchise. Their | | | | story isn't politically correct. Would you comment? |
| demand was 'one-man-one-vote'. | | | | Peter: You're right there, and I was aware that I'd fall |
| Rhodesians had watched this happen in all the other | | | | foul of the PC brigade as I wrote the book. I told |
| former colonies of Africa and saw that once that | | | | the story from the viewpoint of the people who |
| happened, future elections - if they took place at all - | | | | were there and lived through it... People who have |
| were rigged in favour of the incumbent African | | | | never been at the sharp end, set the agenda for so |
| government. When they discovered that they were | | | | called political correctness. With the benefit of |
| worse off than they had been under colonial rule, | | | | hindsight some things could have been done better in |
| black African electorates were unable to change their | | | | Rhodesia; that is the case with almost any endeavor. |
| black African governments. It had turned out to be a | | | | Could the Romans have ruled the world better and |
| case of one-man-one-vote... once. Mass murder, | | | | prevented the downfall of civilization that plunged |
| corruption and economic disaster became the norm | | | | Europe into the mediaeval 'Dark Ages' if they'd done |
| for independent Africa. | | | | things differently? Maybe Pearl Harbor wouldn't have |
| Back in Rhodesia, the frustrated radical black | | | | happened if the Americans had been more alert in |
| politicians soon became exiles and set up external | | | | December 1941? I don't happen to go along with |
| military wings; a bit like radical Muslims and Al Qaeda | | | | current thinking on political correctness. One day I |
| today. These Rhodesian terrorist organizations were | | | | think we will come to regret much of what has been |
| funded by the West; yet trained and armed by the | | | | and is being done under the guise of political |
| Soviet Union and Communist China. Like the modern | | | | correctness. But Scatterlings of Africa reflects what I |
| fanatics of Islam around the world today, terrorist | | | | saw and believed when I lived through those times. I |
| insurgents set about trying to indoctrinate the | | | | make no apology. |
| peaceful black peasant populations of Rhodesia. | | | | Juanita: Peter, what are your thought about Africa |
| Those who did not join the 'cause' were intimidated, | | | | today, and the continued civil unrest in many of its |
| tortured and sometimes killed. That is why I - along | | | | countries? |
| with many others - was a civilian soldier and hunting | | | | Peter: Despair; and anger. It's not just civil unrest |
| terrorists in the Zambezi Valley during the 1960s and | | | | that's happening in Africa; the terrible situation in |
| 1970s. My book is a novel, and all the characters are | | | | Darfur, for example is close to being genocide. |
| fictional; but the events are based on what I saw | | | | Thanks to liberal western media and politicians, millions |
| and experienced during those years of war. | | | | of innocent black Africans have died and are still |
| Juanita: What was your history with Rhodesia at this | | | | dying; some due to war, others from famine and |
| time? | | | | disease. None of this happened on any scale during |
| Peter: I was born there. When I was a child in the | | | | colonial times. In 1970s Rhodesia, life expectancy was |
| 1940s and '50s, my family lived in the bush many | | | | the highest in Africa - well over 60 years. Now it is |
| miles from the nearest town and I had only black | | | | 37 years for men and 34 years for women there |
| friends. I spoke the local African language, 'Ndebele as | | | | (see the World Health Organization statistics on |
| fluently as I spoke English - possibly better. But we | | | | Zimbabwe). No wonder there's civil unrest. The |
| moved to areas where other languages were spoken | | | | (mainly white) liberals and socialist agitators who called |
| and I was sent away to attend school. So through | | | | for, and financed "freedom" for Africa - many of |
| lack of use, I've since forgotten all but the most | | | | whom had never actually lived in Africa - mostly now |
| basic greetings in 'Ndebele... It was an exciting | | | | live safe, comfortable lives in Britain, the US and |
| childhood: I clearly remember my mother's anguish | | | | other civilized countries. |
| when a small herd of elephants came through one | | | | I'm not suggesting we should go back to having |
| night and wreaked havoc with her flowerbeds. That | | | | colonies. That's not possible in Africa anyway; Islamic |
| was an unusual event. But I often lay awake, terrified | | | | fundamentalists are taking over north of the equator |
| by the distinctive grating snarl of a leopard outside | | | | and Communist China to the south. Africa's vast |
| my open bedroom window as he prowled close by | | | | mineral resources are being exploited today more |
| looking for a tasty dog or cat - or maybe even me - | | | | ruthlessly than was ever the case under colonial rule. |
| as a snack; and the row when he broke into the | | | | And the Muslim religion is being imposed on black |
| chicken run. It was too hot to keep the windows | | | | African Christians and other 'non-believers' more |
| closed. Snakes abounded - everything from the huge, | | | | ruthlessly than Missionaries of old ever preached |
| deadly black mambas, notorious for their aggressive | | | | Christianity. But democracy, as we know it, does not |
| nature down to the smallest adders; almost as | | | | always work in all parts of the world. I even wonder |
| deadly. I remember seeing a cobra once and it looked | | | | if it's the right thing for Iraq or Afghanistan. |
| all of twelve feet to me, but my father scoffed at | | | | Juanita: Peter, did you find it difficult writing this |
| that and said it was 'only' about eight feet! I lived and | | | | book? I imagine you would have had to dig deep, |
| worked a regular civilian life in many parts of | | | | into memories that have been buried for years. What |
| Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia - now Zambia. | | | | was the experience like for you? |
| Juanita: What inspired you to write this book? | | | | Peter: Yes, I did dig deep; I have written this book |
| Peter: That's a good question, Juanita; mostly my | | | | from my heart. It was difficult, sometimes painful, |
| love for the Africa that was. And its people - | | | | but at the same time immensely rewarding. |
| especially the black Africans who, unlike most of us | | | | Juanita: Do you ever go back to Africa? |
| white Africans had nowhere else to go when the bad | | | | Peter: Juanita, there's an old saying; "you can take |
| guys took over. The decent, often kind and gentle, | | | | the man out of Africa, but you can't take Africa out |
| black Rhodesian Africans were the ones who | | | | of the man". Africa is in my blood, my very bones; |
| suffered most during the war. They're suffering even | | | | so yes, I do visit from time to time. It's such a |
| more today... | | | | beautiful place. I get depressed with the dirt and |
| Juanita: What happens in "Scatterlings of Africa"? | | | | poverty now though; it was never like that when I |
| Peter: By December 1972, the war is beginning to hot | | | | lived there. But the game reserves are still wonderful. |
| up. Civilian soldiers are increasingly being called upon to | | | | I loved going on safari in the Okavango Delta in |
| leave their families and careers to fight terrorists 'in | | | | Botswana a few years ago. And South Africa is a |
| the bush'. Unlike most of his compatriots, protagonist | | | | huge country that still has much of its infrastructure |
| Lieutenant Ron Cartwright prefers his life as a soldier. | | | | intact - and the scenery there is wonderful. On the |
| But things are changing back home. His wife, Angela; | | | | border between Zimbabwe and Zambia is the mighty |
| desperately unhappy about her husband's obsession | | | | Victoria Falls - one of the original seven natural |
| with the war feels neglected and becomes involved | | | | wonders of the world. |
| in an illicit romance with her long-lost cousin, Mark. | | | | Juanita: The writing style in this book, including your |
| Cartwright is suspicious and trouble brews; he's a | | | | realistic descriptions of the land, its people, the |
| hard-bitten, tough soldier by choice and not a man to | | | | conflict, combined with its fast-pace, is receiving high |
| cross... There's a dramatic end involving all four of the | | | | accolades from readers. What is your background |
| main characters. | | | | with writing? |
| Juanita: How did you own experience influence this | | | | Peter: Apart from non-fiction, none. But even as a |
| story and its characters? | | | | young man I always wanted to write fiction, so I |
| Peter: The military parts are very much based on | | | | took early retirement some years ago and began the |
| what I experienced during the war. There's one | | | | business of learning how to do it. I attended writing |
| hard-to-believe scene involving an elephant during the | | | | courses, read books about writing and went to |
| story, but I served alongside a man that this actually | | | | writers' workshops. When I'd finished writing |
| happened to. All I did was take a number of | | | | Scatterlings of Africa, I asked a professional |
| incidents, many of which happened to me personally, | | | | appraiser, who is a published author herself to read |
| and wove them into the Scatterlings of Africa story. | | | | and criticize the manuscript for me. She did a |
| I'd better make it clear that the romantic part did not | | | | wonderful job but I had to virtually re-write the |
| happen to me - my wife will be reading this - but I | | | | whole book. I sent it back to her a year later and |
| knew people whose marriages came under serious | | | | she found less to criticize, and more to praise; |
| strain because of the war, and I knew about wives | | | | another six months of hard work. Last year I gave it |
| who had affairs while their husbands were away - it | | | | to her again and she passed it as being up to |
| happens more than usual during wars, I think. | | | | publishable standard. The whole thing took me over |
| Juanita: Would you tell us about Lieutenant Ron | | | | three years of hard work. Even now that I've |
| Cartwright's obsession with catching the freedom | | | | learned the trade, every time I read another good |
| fighter, Gadziwa, and why he chooses to focus his | | | | book, I learn more. |
| attention militarily rather than on his family? | | | | Juanita: Do you have any more projects in the |
| Peter: Well, it begins with Ron's inclination for the | | | | works? |
| army life in the bush in preference to the rather | | | | Peter: Yes, I'm working on a new novel, which I hope |
| more mundane life of a civilian at work and home. | | | | will take much less time than Scatterlings of Africa |
| Cartwright is a hard man. Working as an accountant | | | | did because of what I've learned. The research takes |
| is no match for the comradeship and excitement of | | | | a lot of time; even though you know your subject |
| the military. A pretty wife and even limited | | | | well, you forget details after more than thirty years. |
| involvement with three small female children is a | | | | I want my novels to be authentic, so that veterans |
| mixed blessing and rather boring by comparison with | | | | will say - 'yes, that's how it was; this author knows |
| life in his beloved wilds of Africa. The terrorists are | | | | what it was like...' |
| bad guys but a good excuse to get away from it all. | | | | Juanita: How can readers learn more about you and |
| But atrocities committed by one particular insurgent | | | | your book? |
| group turns Ron from general hatred of all terrorists | | | | Peter: For more information about Scatterlings of |
| to an obsession with one in particular - led by | | | | Africa, please take a look at my website: it's quite |
| Comrade Captain Gadziwa, a proud but ruthlessly | | | | easy to find on any of the main search engines - just |
| cruel guerilla. This gets Cartwright into serious trouble | | | | key in the words Africa Peter Davies and should be |
| with his Army superiors. In the end the two of them | | | | near the top of the page. There's a section that |
| battle it out in hand-to-hand combat. | | | | enables visitors to read the first few pages; I keep it |
| Juanita: Peter, who are the "scatterlings of Africa"? | | | | up to date with the latest reviews, plus links to |
| Peter: Another good question. During the early 1980s | | | | Amazon. There are a few pictures from my last visit |
| an artist listed as Juluka released this distinctly Africa | | | | to Botswana, and the unique Okavango Delta - a |
| sounding song - I think it's the same person who is | | | | wildlife-filled water paradise in the middle of a desert, |
| today known as Johnny Clegg... 'They are the | | | | deep in Southern Africa. |
| scatterlings of Africa Each uprooted one... Scatterlings | | | | Juanita: Peter, thank you for the opportunity to talk |
| and fugitives Hooded eyes and weary brows Seek | | | | with you about "Scatterlings of Africa." Your life |
| refuge in the night'. | | | | experience is incredible and readers will certainly be |
| It's really about how Africa is the cradle of | | | | intrigued by this fascinating dialogue. Before we |
| humankind, and how we are all scatterlings of Africa. | | | | depart today, do you have any last thoughts you'd |
| When my wife and I eventually left Africa in the late | | | | like to share? |
| 1980s we felt like scatterlings - we'd lost our | | | | Peter: Yes, please Juanita; I wrote Scatterlings of |
| homeland, and I still miss it. So when I was looking | | | | Africa to entertain people who like a good action-filled |
| for a title for the book I'd written, I decided to use | | | | adventure story. I'm grateful that people who have |
| Scatterlings of Africa. If Johnny Clegg's lyrics - and | | | | read and reviewed it seem to be saying I've |
| current anthropologists are to be believed, the whole | | | | achieved that. |
| of humankind are scatterlings of Africa. But I believe | | | | I'd also like to take this opportunity to say thanks to |
| that we exiled former Africans, black and white, are | | | | Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson of your organization for |
| the modern-day scatterlings of Africa. Those who | | | | his excellent and perceptive review of my book on |
| read my book will see how this fits. | | | | your site; and to thank you for undertaking this |
| Juanita: You have delved deep into the characters of | | | | interview with me. I found your questions profound |
| your book, making this a significant exploration into | | | | and have really enjoyed answering them. |
| relationships and personal motivations. It is quite | | | | |