Coenraad de Buys was the most dangerous man in the Cape of the late seventeen hundreds. A giant, a polygamist, swindler and big talker, the bane of government; father to chieftains and a whole Buysvolk of his own. He walked our uneasy landscape like the wild dogs who were always at his heels, always in his head – like the earless dog who put Buys on his renegade path. Buys (2014) now masterfully translated by Michiel Heyns.

Coenraad de Buys was the most dangerous man around in the Cape of the late 1700s.At eight he crossed his first frontier and left his mother’s house behind. Left his home (the first of many); left the Cape; left civilisation. From the Langkloof, Buys roves – a giant, a legend, polygamist and swindler; the bane of government, father to chieftains and a Buysvolk of his own. Everywhere his wild oats are sown; everywhere renegades and criminals join his band of outcasts. He interprets between Xhosa and English but speaks only his own words. And everywhere on his travels, always there is the pack of dogs and the earless red leader that put Buys on his restless path. In Buys’ tracks, in his head, around his camp fires the slavering jaws snap. He was born in the Langkloof. He died on the banks of the Limpopo. But Buys is not dead. Red Dog is a novel about frontiers and borders. The Afrikaans original Buys was hugely acclaimed in 2014. Now it has been masterfully translated by Michiel Heyns.