Cecil Rhodes orders English song-birds to populate his Cape Town woods (true). Obsessively retiring ornithologist Wills (fictional) brings them from England, becomes involved in pre-Boer War intrigue and gradually cracks his shell of solitude. But will the disorientated birds sing? Somewhat overloaded with fictionalised historical characters and over-ambitious in trying to include too many big themes, but it's atmospheric, often very funny and I romped through it with glee.
(Annabel Bedini - bwl 23 April 2004 ) |
