The Dream House

A haunting meditation on memory, ageing, and the complexities of love and loss in modern South Africa.

In The Dream House, Craig Higginson weaves a riveting and unforgettable tale set in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. A farmhouse is being reproduced a dozen times throughout a valley, each with slight variations, while three small graves lie in the front garden, one ominously empty. A woman in a wheelchair sorts through boxes as her husband wonders where the animals have gone. 'The barren one' dreams of love, and an ageing headmaster contemplates his life's end. As a car appears at the entrance, pointed towards the house like a silver bullet, the story unfolds with dark wit, poetic style, and extraordinary tenderness.

Shortlisted for the Jenny Crwys-Williams' Fiction Book of the Year 2015 and the 2016 Sunday Times Barry Ronge Fiction Prize, and winner of the 2016 University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing in English, The Dream House is a profound exploration of the state of a nation and the deeply human experiences of memory, family, love, and loss. This updated 2016 edition includes new content from the author, delving into the background and poignant motivations behind this moving novel.