Nikolas Ridout

The Noisemaker Nikolas Ridout

A story of love, friendship, compassion and war, The Noisemaker is one of the rare pieces of fiction that is based on hard cold facts. Written by a rising South African author Nikolas Ridout, The Noisemaker is the first part of a trilogy called The Angels Shall Sing. Inspired by the troubled times faced by the South African farmers during the Second Boer War, the story paints the picture of one boy that stood up for what he believed was right. The author successfully captures how war destroys the lives of innocents. Set in Cradock and Cape Town in 1901 it brings history to life in these times. Corruption, lies and deceit were rampant. The British wanted the gold and by hook or by crook they were going to get it. Here in this book, you will get to know of events that were never revealed in history books. The Noisemaker opens with giving us a peep into the everyday life of the farming community in Cradock, a small town in South Africa. Gone are the days when the peace prevailed on the streets of this town. Now a dark and ominous cloud keeps the sky covered as if to remind people of the war that is raging around them. A 16 year old boy is hanged in front of a shocked and frightened audience. The protagonist, a farm boy, watches in horror as his best friend's once strong, lively body is engulfed by the cold calmness of death. Why was the teenage boy hanged? What will our protagonist do next? What sort of devastation does the war bring? Read on to find out!