The Girl who Killed a Nation is a fast-paced tale that is deeply reflective, readableand down to earth, and will draw in lovers of travel, history, and personalmemoir. It is a true African story that willchange readers’ perceptions. Howdid a teenage girl cause the death of 40,000 of her own people in 1856 – and whydo some compare her to an African Joan of Arc or Greta Thunberg?Was she ablack liberation leader, a malicious liar or the disruptor of a conservativepatriarchal society?JoinTreive Nicholas on a moving physical and spiritual journey from the Wild Coastof South Africa to a highly symbolic grave in Cambridgeshire, England as hesearches for the infamous teenage prophetess Nongqawuse – leader of the popularmass movement known as the Great Cattle Killing (1856–57). Fateis his constant companion, gently leading him to the rivers, woods and pastureswhere mercurial spirits, kings, prophets, witch doctors and colonial leadersplayed out this visceral African story in the cauldron of nine wars, settlerinvasion and cruel natural disasters.The ripples of this almost unbelievabletragedy are still felt today.Onthe grassy hills of the Eastern Cape, Treive concludes the South African leg ofhis pilgrimage, holding an open-air court at the grave of the revered amaXhosaruler, King Hintsa.The verdict on his death? Bloody regicide, at the hands ofSir Harry Smith, the Hero of Aliwal and darling of Victorian society. Afterrecovering from four tropical diseases, and much to Treive’s great surprise, thejourney does not end there.Instead, it all comes uncomfortably closer to home. Much closer.