The debut book from author
Treive Nicholas
Book promotion in South Africa, 4th - 7th Jan ‘22
The most important journey of my life
Writing A Nun and the Pig was a searching trip down memory lane to 1980s South Africa, where I was a teacher. My return there in 2020 threw up one or two surprises… I hope you enjoy reading these tales as much as I enjoyed writing them.
In 1980, while Nelson Mandela languished in jail, I arrived in his home town of Umtata, as a hopelessly naïve British teenager. In the company of a feisty American nun I frequently found myself in absurd and obscene situations - dancing with Thembu chiefs, working in townships, dodging the attention of freedom fighters and lost, god-knows-where in Lesotho. Ripping yarns frequently rubbed shoulders with poignant stories of real people.
What people are saying
“I have always admired Treive's ability to ‘spin a yarn', so I really encouraged him to document his South African adventures. I hope that the result will be as entertaining for the reader as it has been for me.”
“Treive has done real justice in telling a story of his varied experiences in an educational and entertaining style. A Nun and the Pig is a true testimony to the uniqueness of the Eastern Cape, especially the Transkei.”
“I can vouch for the authenticity of the events in A Nun & The Pig. Treive, thank you for telling our story in such an honest, colourful and sensitive fashion.”
More from A Nun and The Pig:
Listen to my interview with John Maytham for CapeTalk Radio.