The Expedition to the Baobab Tree    by Wilma Stockenström Order:  USA  Can Archipelago Books, 2014 (2014) Softcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Barbara Lingens Stories of slave women sold and separated from their families and babies have been told before. What is different about The Expedition to the Baobab Tree is the dream-like yet purposeful and compelling way this story unfolds. It is a rare treat to be able to read such beautiful prose. We feel we are in the hands of a poet writing prose — and we are. Wilma Stockenström has written drama, poetry and fiction and has won prizes for all. She is considered an important writer of Afrikaans. We can be grateful that the distinguished author J. M. Coetzee translated this work to English. Doing this brought Stockenström international attention, and as a result she has been honored in the Netherlands and Italy for her work. Consider this passage: 'How long is the life of a man? From one wink to another of the lightning. From the fuller swelling of the drop to its fall.' The Expedition to the Baobab Tree is a short novel but definitely worthy of close attention. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews