Jack and his ostrich : An African story by Eleanor Stredder
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"Jack and his ostrich: An African story" by Eleanor Stredder is a children’s novel written in the late 19th century. The book centers on Jack Treby, a young English boy growing up with his father on an isolated farm on the South African veldt, and his close bond with his pet ostrich, Vickel. The narrative seems to explore themes of family resilience, cross-cultural encounters, and rural adventure amidst the challenges and dangers
of frontier life in colonial Africa. The opening of the story introduces Jack as proud of his English heritage despite being born and raised in South Africa. He lives with his widowed father in a remote homestead, aided only by a Hottentot woman, Tottie, and her husband, alongside occasional labor from local Kafir men. Their tranquil life is violently disrupted when their home is attacked by thieves, leading to a night of fire, chaos, and the loss of their cherished flock of sheep. Escaping with only a few belongings and Vickel, Jack and his father seek help from their Boer neighbors, the Van Immerseel family, navigating language barriers and cultural differences. Through these early chapters, Jack befriends the Boer children, copes with homesickness and illness, and clings to his father, his ostrich, and his identity amidst hardship—the narrative blending adventure, coming-of-age, and a vivid depiction of colonial farm life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Stredder, Eleanor, 1835-1913 |
|---|---|
| Title | Jack and his ostrich : An African story |
| Original Publication | London: T. Nelson and Sons, 1900. |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 79.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres |
| Subject | Animals -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Adventure stories |
| Subject | Nature stories |
| Subject | Hunting stories |
| Subject | Africa -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Voyages and travels -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Students -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Teachers -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Ostriches -- Juvenile fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 75898 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-75898-5 |
| Release Date | Apr 17, 2025 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 544 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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