For Your Bookshelf: Eugene
Eugene’s rough past meets a deadly present, as old alliances crumble and he’s charged with murder.
Eugene’s rough past meets a deadly present, as old alliances crumble and he’s charged with murder.
| Genres: | General Fiction |
|---|---|
| Language | Afrikaans, English |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pages: | 256 |
| Publisher: | NB Publishers |
| Published: | 2022 |
Plot Summary
Eugene’s world is built from the streets of the ghetto, but his polished, upper-class look hides the scars of his past. Raised in the chaos of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, he’s got the sharpness of someone who’s seen it all. His childhood crew—Alan, Huey, and Jenny—aren’t part of his life anymore. Things went wrong in Hillbrow, and now Eugene’s facing a murder charge.
This novel follows Eugene’s struggle to reconcile the man he used to be with the man he wants to become. From the rough “kampong” of his childhood to the political fights he got tangled in as an adult, Eugene’s journey is a tale of survival – and the price of betrayal.
Eugene was a double winner at the 2023 kykNET-Rapport Book Awards, taking home both the kykNET-Rapport Prize for fiction and the Jan Rabie-Rapport Prize for debut works.
About The Author
Kirby van der Merwe grew up in Paarl and after finishing school, studied at Hewitt College. Teaching became his first real passion, spanning subjects from language to art to biology, but that wasn’t all. He also spent time as a cabinetmaker and an artist, balancing his love for creativity with his fondness for nature, particularly hiking and rock climbing.
It wasn’t until he rubbed shoulders with artists like Uys Krige and Jan Rabie that the urge to write began to stir within him. Inspired by the creative energy around him, he penned his first poem in 1993. That marked the beginning of his poetry journey, with his works later appearing in Nuwe stemme 1 and Groot Verseboek. Though Kirby’s heart lies in poetry, he admits it’s a tough crowd these days, so he’s pivoted to writing what he calls “visual prose.”
But it’s not just poetry – Kirby’s short stories made it into Die stukke wat ons sny and Vonkfiksie. He’s made it to the finals of a few prestigious competitions, including RSG’s radio drama contest and De Kat’s short story competition. His debut novel, Klapperhaar slaap nie stil nie, hit shelves in 1999 after a feverish 20-day writing sprint. In 2023, after over two decades, his second novel, Eugene, was finally released by Human & Rousseau
About The Author
