Just a Bit Touched

About the Book

The title for this volume was suggested by a remark of the narrator in the opening paragraph of the first story, 'The Arcadian': "They're just a bit touched, bonkers-like."

While the characters might appear 'a bit touched,' each tale is touched by its own perspective, since each reflects the point of view of its unique narrator. So often the England of the Thirties or Forties is seen through the eyes of a child so that, Dickens-like, the foibles and characteristics of the adult world appear larger than life. These early stories are interesting, too, for the historical perspective they give us — of an Andy Capp industrial society long since gone. There are other stories written from the perspective of the Fifties: the two stories dealing with motor cars ('The Efelant' and 'Egging-on') add a more amusing perspective — of a time when petrol was dear and neighbours more than a bit touched by curiosity! The stories written in Africa with its latent social change — 'Victims,' for instance — add a more violent perspective, though hilarity is introduced by the expatriot (in 'It Was A Very Sad Case') who seems more than a bit touched by his paranoia.

The author has written a quartette of stories, the other three titles of the quartette being News from Parched Mountain: Tales from the Karoo in the new South Africa, Flakes of Dark and Light: Tales From Southern Africa and Elsewhere; and Pivot of Violence: Tales from the new South Africa. All make a very vivid and lasting impression.

About the Author

Roy Holland was born in Birmingham. He went to Africa in 1966 to teach in the universities of the Boleswa countries. In 1971 he went to Greece for three years. He and his family lived on the island of Levkas for six months, the Gulf of Corinth for a similar period, and in Corfu for a little over two years. He wrote full-time until 1974, when he returned to the U.K. and worked on a research project until returning to Africa in 1977. Thereafter he lived in Southern Africa and worked in universities in Zimbabwe, Lebowa and Venda. He was Professor of English at the University of the North, the University of Venda, as well as Dean of the Faculty of Arts in the later 80's. He retired early to write full-time. Recently he has returned to England to settle in Dorset.