The Wire

Whitethorn is the name of Bryce Courtney’s new book—and his fourth book set in Africa. The book has echoes of the authors own early life growing up in rural South Africa and winning a scholarship to a prestigious school. In the book, the main character Tom is confronted with racism and injustice, characteristics that handicapped South Africa for large parts of the twentieth century. Bryce Courtney spoke to Cath Keneally about the people of South Africa and how their ties to Europe are perhaps not as close as we would assume…