The Smell of Apples is a 1993 debut novel by South African Mark Behr, published in Afrikaans as Die Reuk van Appels then published in 1995 in English.
Mark Behr describes the Afrikaner mentality in apartheid South Africa as seen through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy called Marnus, the son of an Army General. The novel also appeared in South Africa the same year in Afrikaans as Die reuk van apples. In 2017, the Afrikaans novel was adapted for the stage by the theatre company Theatrerocket, featuring Gideon Lombard in this solo production, directed by Lara Bye. The production toured the country to several festivals and main theatres to great acclaim. To date, it has earned the following awards and recognition: Kanna Award for Best Actor (KKNK 2017), Aardklop Award nomination for Best Actor (2017), Aardklop Award nomination for Best Director (2017), Best Actor (South African Theatre Magazine Awards 2017), four BroadwayWorld 2017 nominations (Best New Work, Best Performer in a Leading Role in a Play, Best Sound Design, Best Play) and four kykNET Fiësta Awards 2017 (Best Performance in a Solo Production, Best Adaption of an Existing Work; Best Director and Best overall production).
