John Adams emigrates from England to South Africa and amasses a large fortune as a diamond magnate and land baron. In the finest detail, he plans the Adams legacy for his children and future generations. His wife, Sarah, warns him: "Parents don't have contracts with their children that will prevent them from breaking away one day." Every character in this gripping narrative indeed grows into an individual with unique dreams, unique ideals. Irredeemable conflict is the result, with destructive relationships and shattered dreams. It seems as if John's obsession with wealth and the preservation of Kingsberg for future generations has, instead, doomed the Adams family to failure. The towering sandstone castle with its 32 rooms becomes as important a "character" in the story as the family members. Sandstone Castle is a moving and powerful chronicle. It is an artfully constructed reclamation of the past: a gripping fusion of personal and regional history, set against the striking backdrop of the Eastern Free State.