The red antelope

The red antelope is a novel by Henning Mankell that was published by the Swedish publisher Norstedt in 2000 under the original title Vindens son (The Son of the Wind) .

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In the Kalahari desert in 1876, while searching for an as yet undiscovered insect, the young unsuccessful Swede Hans Bengler meets the bush boy Molo, who has just lost his parents in an attack on his tribe. Bengler, seized by a sudden inspiration, decides to take the boy to Sweden, to “civilize” him and enable him to have a “better life”. Against the resistance of Wilhelm Anderssen, a Swedish trade representative who temporarily takes Bengler in with him in the desert, and that of the boy who absolutely does not want to leave his home, the two sail from Cape Town to Simrishamn, where the Swedish autumn has just begun.

Molo, whom Bengler baptizes Daniel without bothering about his previous name and past, suffers greatly from the sudden uprooting and severe homesickness, but all his attempts to escape to run home on the "big aquatic animal", the sea, fail . Meanwhile, Bengler ran out of money and decided, "for the well-being of the boy", to rent him out as a model to the painter Alfred Boman for a fee and to exhibit him, together with his collected insects, in the cities of the Swedish south coast. On the trip they also come to Bengler's old parents' house, where he learns that his father is dead and that the house is a mess. He takes all valuables out of the house and the attempt to leave his broken past behind, "a new life" should begin.

When Bengler is on the run with Molo after an incident with the critical journalist Ina Myrén, who tries to find out the truth about Daniel's past, the boy leaves the boys in the care of Doctor Madsen, who has a scientific interest in him, and Alma and Edvin, who take him in on their poor farm in a Swedish nest called Kverrestad.

Disappointed by “father” and hostile in the Swedish province from all sides, he plans more than ever to flee across the sea back home. He receives unexpected support from Sanna, a girl from the village who is considered “lagging behind” and “stupid”. The two become friends. Daniel, who now speaks the Swedish language, continues to suffer and is offensive everywhere, both among the unenlightened villagers and with pastor Hallén, who does not want to succeed in proselytizing the boy.

After Daniel is caught on his first attempt to escape, he and Sanna manage a second escape, in which the two are caught again. He desperately wants to throw himself into the waters, but it is Sanna of all people who prevents him from being reunited with his parents. Daniel cannot forgive this betrayal.