Fwd: Greek-South African Writes Novel of Female Friendship in Post-Apartheid South Africa
MGSA exec. director
Hello,
It was the Greek philosopher Plato who stated, “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” Those bodies could be between lovers; between parents and children; between lifelong friends.
Love in all its forms is at the forefront of Elene Catrakilis’s debut novel, Under an African Sky (Belvedere House, March 10, 2026). Historical fiction set in the last days of South African Apartheid, it is the story of the friendship of two women, one white, one Black, who navigate a new world where their personal lives are thrown into tumult while the nation’s political upheaval tests their bonds.
From Johannesburg in 1989 to the timeless monasteries of Greece, history and faith shape the novel. Catrakilis, a prize-winning writer born from Greek-Cypriot immigrants in South Africa, now resides in the Atlanta area with her family. With ties to various local and national cultural and religious groups, Catrakilis explores cross-cultural connections rooted in our shared humanity.
Publishers Weekly calls it “a heartfelt and thought-provoking read that celebrates the strength of women, the bonds of family, and the possibility of redemption.” Kirkus Reviews notes that it’s “a vibrant, well-crafted novel with a lot of heart.”
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