Jack and his ostrich: An African story: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Jack and his ostrich: An African story: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Jack and his ostrich: An African story is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Stredder, Eleanor (1835–1913).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"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.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Jack and his ostrich: An African story
- Author credits: Stredder, Eleanor (1835–1913)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Adventure stories
- Africa -- Juvenile fiction
- Animals -- Juvenile fiction
- Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
- Hunting stories
- Nature stories
- Ostriches -- Juvenile fiction
- Students -- Juvenile fiction
- Teachers -- Juvenile fiction
- Voyages and travels -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Adventure
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Novels
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Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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