The Housemaid's Daughter (44 page)
Acknowledgements
Many people helped to create this book, but there are some who deserve particular mention. I am indebted to Michael Tetelman for granting me access to his superb research thesis on Black Politics in Cradock between the years 1948 and 1985. His material provided me with the essential background to Ada’s story.
The staff at the Cory Library at Rhodes University in Grahamstown helped me track down Michael’s thesis, along with a raft of other historical documents. My thanks to them for their time and generosity.
Sandra and Michael Antrobus provided advice, invaluable referrals, and hospitality on the ground in Cradock, for which I’m most grateful. Thank you also to Duncan Ferguson, Cradock’s local archivist, who answered my questions, and allowed me to sift through his photographs and extensive collection of memorabilia.
I would particularly like to express my appreciation to my agent Judith Murdoch and my editor Imogen Taylor. They helped me refine the manuscript, and provided much encouragement and wisdom throughout the publication process.
Finally, my most sincere thanks must go to my family whose patience, love and support were unfailing.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE HOUSEMAID’S DAUGHTER
. Copyright © 2012 by Barbara Mutch Limited. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Mutch, Barbara.
[Karoo plainsong]
The housemaid’s daughter / Barbara Mutch.—1st U.S. edition.
p. cm.
Originally published as: Karoo plainsong. Leicester [England] : Matador, 2010.
ISBN 978-1-250-01630-0 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-03196-9 (e-book)
1. Women pioneers—Fiction. 2. Irish—South Africa—Fiction. 3. Apartheid—Fiction. 4. South Africa—History—1909–1961—Fiction. 5. South Africa—Social conditions—Fiction. I. Title.
PR9369.4.M88K37 2013
823'.92—dc23
2013026243
An extended version of
The Housemaid’s Daughter
was first published by Troubadour Publishing Ltd. under the title
Karoo Plainsong
First published in Great Britain by Headline Review, an imprint of Headline Publishing Group
First U.S. Edition: December 2013
eISBN 9781250031969
First eBook edition: November 2013