ODE TO THE MINER

Inspired by the sculptures of miners by Tienie Pritchard. Numbered 186 of the standard edition limited to 200 numbered copies. Signed. Pictorial hard cover with the dust jacket and 323 pages in fine condition.

According to the foreword by Joanita Fourie, Ode to the Miner is unique in many respects; not only does it portray the history of mining in South Africa on quite a unique level, but intertwined with the story of mining and the miners is also the history of the agony and the ecstasy of those who came to seek their fortunes beneath the surface of this Dark Continent. Anecdotes and small slithers of information revealing to the reader more about everyday life in the mining towns and camps add an interesting spice to the book, making it accessible to magnates, miners, artists and lay readers alike.

Kloppers went to great trouble to unearth old photographs, newspaper articles, paintings and other illustrative materials to make this history real to the reader. He brought together in one publication the wealth of precious information about the mining fraternity that can today only be found in books long out of print and gathering dust, or destined for the rubbish pile.

The highlight of this haunting and beautifully told history is the exquisite sculptures of Pritchard, a South African sculptor. His portrayal of the miners at work in the depths of the earth of this Dark Continent affords a place of honour to the many today nameless men who toiled to get the riches out of the pits of darkness to the sorting tables and European markets. Pritchard's sculptures are not crude "first drafts" but true works of art.https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/print-version/ode-to-the-miner-2015-07-15