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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'For the young Peekay, it is a piece of advice that he will carry with him throughout his life.Born in a South Africa divided by racism and hatred, this one small boy will come to lead all the tribes of Africa. Through enduring friendships with Hymie and Gideon, Peekay gains the strength he needs to win out. And in a final conflict with his childhood enemy, the Judge, Peekay will fight to the death for justice. Bryce Courtenay's classic bestseller is a story of the triumph of the human spirit - a spellbinding tale for all ages.' (Publication summary)
Adaptations
-
form
y
The Power of One
( dir. John G. Avildsen
)
United States of America (USA)
:
Alcor Films
,
1992
Z390308
1992
single work
film/TV
The story of a young English boy called PK, orphaned in a foreign land and terrorised for his political beliefs by his schoolmates. He turns to the only friend who can help him: a kindly yet worldly wise prison inmate who teaches him how to box. As he grows to manhood, PK takes on the systemic social injustices he sees around him and finds that one person really can make a difference.
Notes
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Selected in December 2004 by the Australian public in an ABC poll as Australia's joint 36th favourite book.
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Ranked #5 in ABC1's First Tuesday Book Club '10 Aussie Books to Read Before You Die' 2012 voting ballot.
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Dedication: For Maude Jasmine Greer and Enda Murphy. Here is the book I promised you so long ago.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Sound recording.
Works about this Work
- y The Power of One, Bryce Courtenay Essendon North : Radiant Heart Publishing , 2015 8919230 2015 single work criticism
-
Courtenay Still Leads Reading Favourites
2015
single work
column
— Appears in: NT News , 8 September 2015; (p. 4) 'Bryce Courtenay's Power of One has topped the list of Australia's 100 best-loved books...' -
Books That Changed Me : Fiona McIntosh
2014
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sun-Herald , 23 November 2014; (p. 16) -
Celebrating Great Australian Writing : First Tuesday Book Club
2013
single work
column
— Appears in: InCite , 1 January vol. 34 no. 1/2 2013; (p. 18-20) -
Showman Who Knew the Power of a Story
2012
single work
column
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 24 November 2012; (p. 26-27)
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Untitled
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , February vol. 44 no. 1 2000; (p. 22)
— Review of The Power of One 1989 single work novel -
Untitled
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: Fiction Focus : New Titles for Teenagers , vol. 14 no. 1 2000; (p. 35-36)
— Review of The Power of One 1989 single work novel -
A White Son of Africa
1989
single work
review
— Appears in: Washington Post Book World , 4 June 1989; (p. 6)
— Review of The Power of One 1989 single work novel -
Adam's Flight of Fancy Becomes a Ripping Yarn
1989
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 11 March 1989; (p. 11)
— Review of The Power of One 1989 single work novel -
Happy Account of a Boy Hero
1989
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 4 March 1989; (p. B5)
— Review of The Power of One 1989 single work novel -
A Look At... The Young Readers' Edition of Bryce Courtenay's The Power of One
1999
single work
column
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , September vol. 14 no. 4 1999; (p. 20-21) -
Showman Who Knew the Power of a Story
2012
single work
column
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 24 November 2012; (p. 26-27) -
Celebrating Great Australian Writing : First Tuesday Book Club
2013
single work
column
— Appears in: InCite , 1 January vol. 34 no. 1/2 2013; (p. 18-20) -
Power of Sequel Packs Punch
1991
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Saturday Mercury , 5 October 1991; (p. 28) -
Tragedy Tackled by Power of Pen
1991
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Saturday Mercury , 12 October 1991; (p. 18)
Awards
- 1996 winner West Australian Young Readers' Book Award — Avis Page Award
- 1996 winner West Australian Young Readers' Book Award — Older Readers
- 1994 winner KOALA Awards — Secondary
- 1990 British Book Awards — Best New Novel
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cZimbabwe,cSouthern Africa, Africa,
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cSouth Africa,cSouthern Africa, Africa,