We were early at the Lopez Island ferry dock, or rather, the ferry was later than expected, and so we turned into the tiny waiting room in the small wooden building that had a window for ticket sales and otherwise served as shelter for the ferry workers in bad weather. Nowhere to sit, but look: a small case of books!

“a library! They have a waiting room library! What a good idea!”

“no. Look, they are for sale. A dollar each in that box there.”

But it was too late. Browsing had already commenced, and once commenced cannot be interrupted without distress. Most of the books were junk, plus a cluster of remainders from someone’s college bookshelf. Then there was this paperback, aged but intact, understated cover art, the happy penguin still dancing (nowadays the penguin stands diffidently on two feet): “complete PENGUIN BOOKS unabridged” on the cover.

Not my style, not even a topic of interest, but the ferry was late and then there would be more waiting and an airplane ride. So the dollar was scrounged, folded, and tucked into the uneven slot of the wooden box.

This novel follows the fate of a group of Dutch pioneers in the 1830s as they push north from the Cape away from growing British dominance, a portion of what is known as “the great trek.” Quite popular in its day (1st published in 1937), it takes a clear-eyed view of the Afrikaner ways and their stubborn self-righteousness. Surprising for a present-day reader is the unblushing treatment of sexual desire (not coy but also not rouged up to be erotic), the sympathetic portrayal of a variety of women, and reasonably developed (but true to stereotype) non-white characters. People sometimes label it as “western” genre, but this is a thoroughly modern novel.

Far from Lopez Island now, I can only wonder what other small treasures might still perch on the modest shelves of the ferry office.