The Tale of Tom & Alice

Step back in time to a small rural community in Indwe. The Tale of Tom and Alice is a rich, multi-layered story that brings to life the lives and legacies of Tom and Alice. Tom’s family roots trace back to the scenic southern Cape, while Alice’s grandparents braved the treacherous oceans to make Africa their home. Their stories unfold through the detailed and heartfelt narration of their son, Eugéne Barnard (Boysie), who has dedicated years to researching his family’s past and their connections to Indwe. 

In The Tale of Tom and Alice, readers encounter a vivid tapestry of ancestors who laid the groundwork for future generations in South Africa. Meet Hans Bernard, the VOC soldier who reluctantly journeyed to the Cape; Alfred Robarts, the English chemist-doctor serving the sick in the remote Cape Midlands of the mid-1800s; and Walter Robarts, a resilient figure who faced family hardships during the Boer War. Discover Johanna Erasmus, Walter’s devoted wife who bore thirteen children, as well as young August Wende and Elizabeth Schreiber, immigrant children from Prussia. Walk with George Moffett, the “Friend of the Nation” and custodian of General Jan Smuts’s saddle, and dine alongside Lieutenant William Moffett, who shared a meal with Queen Victoria. 

Through Boysie’s careful storytelling, readers can follow these family threads as they interweave with the history of the close-knit Indwe community. The book is a sensory journey: each scene carries with it the scents, colours, and textures of time and place, enriched by surprises lurking in the details. 

The 376-page book includes a family tree, 3 period maps, 60 photographs, and links to 12 family video clips of the 1950’s and 1960’s.