num_pages: 352
description: When Rainclouds Escaping South Africa and his troubled past Makehaya crosses the border to Botswana in the hope of leading a peaceful purposeful life. In the village of Golema Mmidi he meets Gilbert a charismatic Englishman who is trying to modernise farming methods to benefit the community. The two outsiders join forces but their task is fraught with opposition from the corrupt chief the pressures of tradition and the unrelenting climate ever threaten to bring tragedy. Margaret an orphan from a despised tribe has lived her life under the loving protection of a missionary's wife. She has only to open her mouth to cause confusion for her education and English accent do not fit her looks. When she accepts her first teaching post in a remote village Margaret is befriended by Dikeledi sister of Maru the chief-in-waiting. Despite making influential friends Margaret faces prejudice even from the children she teaches and her presence causes Maru and his best friend - also Dikeledi's lover - to become sworn enemies.
language: English
title: When Rain Clouds Gather & Maru
publisher: Virago Press Ltd