Tarnished Idols: Another Novel in the 'Stories from South Africa'

"No mortal is perfect enough to be idolized." Around this proven adage, Marie Warder has woven a gripping tale — a story in which pure love and flaming passion are interchanged with venomous envy and bitter hatred. Against the background of a newspaper office in Johannesburg, and an engineering construction camp in the Orange Free State, a gifted young girl's enduring devotion to a WW2 pilot unltimately exposes her to bitter envy and consuming hatred. In convincing manner, the writer relates the story from the point of view of Paul Jansen, the man who sincerely loved the beautiful Jeanne, but could never be more than a brother to her. The reason? Jeanne already worships another man — an idol with "feet of clay". Her initial adoration and later struggle against this "idol" make for an intensely moving story, sensitively recorded. Marie Warder has a deep knowledge of mankind with all its urges and weaknesses, and her characters are always convincingly portrayed. Here we meet people as we all know them—we see constant misunderstandings that undermine marital happiness, and jealousy that estranges friends. In short: You have in your hand a book you will find difficult to put down. Publisher's Review