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John Gordon Davis
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Hold My Hand I'm Dying Kindle Edition

by John Gordon Davis (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 221 ratings
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A stirring and compelling story, full of adventure, set against the background of the move to freedom in Africa. In the face of opposition, hatred, violence and death, the gentler human feelings of friendship and love are nonetheless maintained. Joseph Mahoney is the last Colonial Commissioner in the Kariba Gorge, faced with easing the transition to new rule. To complicate matters, his servant Samson has been accused of murder, and he is drifting apart from Suzie, whom he loves very deeply. Yet personal matters apart, he must deal with the simmering undercurrent of violence and revenge that might envelope the countryside at any moment.

The Author: John Gordon Davis was born in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and educated in South Africa. He earned a BA in Political Science, paying his way through university by working as a deckhand on British merchant ships and on the Dutch whaling fleet at the Antarctic. He went on to take a Bachelor of Laws degree whilst serving as a judge´s clerk in Rhodesia.

Called to the Bar, he was appointed an assistant public prosecutor in the Magistrate´s Courts during the troubled years leading up to Rhodesia´s Unilateral Declaration of Independence, before becoming Crown Counsel in the Attorney General´s Chambers. He was later appointed to the same position in Hong Kong.

He quit this post to become a full-time writer when his first book, “Hold My Hand I´m Dying” became an instant best-seller. Other bestselling novels followed.

A veteran seaman; he and his Australian born wife, Rosemary, sailed round most of the world in a succession of yachts. Upon retirement, they travelled widely and from their home in a lovely old Spanish farmhouse in Andalucia, Spain, he also ran highly successful writing courses for both aspiring and published authors.

John Gordon Davis sadly died in 2014 leaving behind a rich literary heritage, including several unpublished novels he had worked on even as he supposedly slowed the pace.
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  1. Print length
    512 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    June 29, 2015
  5. File size
    786 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Gordon Davis was born in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and educated in South Africa. He earned a BA in Political Science, paying his way through university by working as a deckhand on British merchant ships and on the Dutch whaling fleet at the Antarctic. He went on to take an LL.B. degree whilst serving as a judge´s clerk in Rhodesia. Called to the Bar, he was appointed an assistant public prosecutor in the Magistrate´s Courts during the troubled years leading up to Rhodesia´s Unilateral Declaration of Independence, before becoming Crown Counsel in the Attorney General´s Chambers. He was later appointed to the same position in Hong Kong. He quit this post to become a full-time writer when his first book, “Hold My Hand I´m Dying” became an instant best-seller. Other bestselling novels followed. A veteran seaman; he and his Australian born wife, Rosemary, sailed round most of the world in a succession of yachts. Upon retirement, they travelled widely and from their home in a lovely old Spanish farmhouse in Andalucia, Spain, he also ran highly successful writing courses for both aspiring and published authors. John Gordon Davis sadly died in 2014 leaving behind a rich literary heritage, including several unpublished novels he had worked on even as he supposedly slowed the pace.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B010OD5174
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ House of Stratus (June 29, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 29, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 786 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 221 ratings

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John Gordon Davis

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
221 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Alan S Beal
5.0 out of 5 stars An old book but a good one
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
Graphic story of Rhodesia as it headed towards UDI then independence as Zimbabwe. The dreams of both black and white Rhodesians/Zimbabweans of a multi racial country destroyed by the Mugabe years. And still the dreams fade under the current administration. A sad story that can only be appreciated by those who lived in and loved that country. Sadly the story of Africa.....so many times over.
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Kopite
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
From the first page that I read I found this book to be most absorbing and kept me wanting more. Really liked the way the story pans out. As I live in Southern Africa I could easily relate to the descriptions of the towns and place’s described in the book, the story kept me burning the midnight oil, very well written and well worth my 4 star rating, most enjoyable.w
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daniel i antman
3.0 out of 5 stars Bit repetitive
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2017
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Got a bit repetitious and boring. The constant references to his relationship with his lover was actually annoying. Overall disappointing
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Miguel Tonnies
5.0 out of 5 stars Always amazing
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2015
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Reread for the umpteenth times

A marvellous story of life and love in the final stages of white Rhodesia.

A very skilled writer John Gordon Davis was
3 people found this helpful
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kluless
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018
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On of the best books on Southern Africa I have read.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars This book will keep your interest. I found it ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2018
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This book will keep your interest. I found it somewhat disjointed however. First book however, and in later books he seems to have this smoothed out.
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Elisabeth Tromm
5.0 out of 5 stars politics and a love affair that ended very sad
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2017
Absolute best-seller. I lived there during the last few years of Rhodesia and the first 4 years of Zimbabwe.
The book has everything. The way of life in those days, politics and a love affair that ended very sad.
Hold my hand, I am dying were also the words of my Rhodesian husband when he died.
I reread the book a few times as it takes me back to the time of laughter and sadness.
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dave parrington
4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2016
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Interesting to me as I am from Rhodesia although this was set at a time before I served my years in th ed bsap
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Mary Pearson
5.0 out of 5 stars John Gordon Davis
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2023
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An old classic really worth reading.
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Irene Kypragora
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in Germany on January 7, 2023
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An enjoyable read and gripping story line
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Suzy W.
5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece
Reviewed in Spain on September 16, 2018
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Written from the heart. A description of the mood and mechanisms of a vanishing culture. Intelligent, nostalgic for those of us who have lived in Southern Africa and informative for those who haven't. I loved this book and am going to read all the others by this master craftsman.
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Lynne B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Although "Hold My Hand I'm Dying" was written so many years ago it still makes an excellent read.
Reviewed in Australia on August 20, 2018
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I had read this book many years ago in the early 70's whilst living in South Africa. I enjoyed it even more now especially after all these years and seeing what a dreadful state Zimbabwe is in now. John Gordon Davis really knew his country so well and predicted what would happen. I really recommend this book. JGD is an excellent writer.
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C. Matthews
5.0 out of 5 stars Why did I wait over 40 years to read this?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2011
Verified Purchase
I recall, many years ago in Rhodesia the sensation this book caused. I was too young to pay attention and here, in London, I read at last the book that is as old as I am. It is a long time since I have wept openly, but the heartbreaking evocative thoughts and memories of this country moved me profoundly.
I also dog-eared many sections of this book to read again, with its unbearably sad story of a tragic, unrequited love. It would be giving too much away to reveal who utters the words of the title, but when reading the section, for me this encapsulated the desperate sadness I feel at the terrible things that have happened in this beautiful country.
I then realised how many Zimbabweans, black and white, have been scattered across the world never to see their loved ones again, this story duplicating itself again and again in a way.
I am amazed at the power of this novel after so many years and I urge all Zimbabweans in exile to read it.
11 people found this helpful
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