The Conservationist

Mehring has everything he ever wanted. But when his wife is killed in an accident, his son begins to rebel against Mehring’s world. And when a disciple of the Reverend Mangena tries to set up an alternative farm nearby and incite others to join him, Mehring’s workers desert him for Mangena’s camp. Even the land turns hostile, with drought destroying his crops and then a flash flood on Christmas Eve destroying their farmhouse. Managing only to rescue a few servants and his mistress, who has become surrogate mother for his young daughter, Mehring find himself ruined and forced out onto the road—where he may yet find that the only thing worse than having all your possessions taken from you is being stripped of hope…