Big Dan’s Sofie is a poignant tale of family and compassion against the setting of the woodcutter’s lives in the Knysna forest. It tells the story of Sofie, a woman born into abject poverty with no prospect of marriage. The story takes place during the period 1935 to 1945 when Sofie goes to work for Big Dan, a forester whose wife is terminally ill. She takes care of his neglected children and raises her own level of education while helping them with their homework. After his wife dies, Big Dan finds himself increasingly drawn to Sofie and her tender yet straightforward ways. Eventually they fall in love and get married. Despite her simple background, Sofie manages to draw a deeply complicated family together with wisdom and understanding beyond her upbringing. She tackles the prejudices of her fellow villagers with veracity and brutal honesty, and constantly demonstrates that grace and wisdom are the products of character and not social standing.