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BOOKS (or, go to Newspapers, or, go to News On Line. To exit, click on any navigation flag O.)
Compiling a list of books is a thankless task, because it is so difficult to decide which ninety-nine per cent cannot be included. The following is a very small selection of books that visitors might enjoy. They are not necessarily chosen for their literary value - Alan Paton was a respected writer, while Wilbur Smith is a respected story teller and never pretended to be anything else.
If you have come across a book that you think others would find rewarding, please e-mail the title and I will consider adding it to this page. (Contact me)
Anyway, here are some suggestions:
Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton (Fiction)
To many, myself included, this is the best work of fiction ever to come out of South Africa. Written by one of South Africa's foremost liberals of the time (1947), it is not an anti-apartheid novel, but a story of black and white that rises above petty politics. If it does not move you, you have no soul. The film, starring Richard Harris and James Earl Ray, did not manage to capture the magic of the written words.
The opening paragraph - "There is a road that leads from Ixopo into the hills ......" is one of the most famous in the history of South African literature.
The Covenant, by James A Michener (Historical fiction)
Not my favourite, but so well-known, and so often recommended, that I cannot leave it out.
Michener set himself a tough task, covering the entire history of South Africa in one novel. He didn't do a bad job, but it could have been a lot better. The story is good (never knew Michener to write a bad one!) but as a foreigner, he did not get into the hearts of the people. Stereotypes abound. The Afrikaners are impossibly bad, the English impossibly good, the blacks impossibly bad or impossibly good. To us South Africans, the characters are cardboard cutouts. But the Covenant will give you a broad picture.
Books by author Wilbur Smith - South Africa's most successful writer (Historical fiction)
One of the world's great story-tellers, Wilbur Smith's historical novels have hit the best-seller lists year after year since the mid-sixties.
He has never written a novel that failed to entertain. However, I would not recommend all of them as background reading on South Africa. He is a novelist, and by his own admission will juggle history somewhat if it suits the tale he is weaving.
However, his earlier works in particular were pretty much true to history, and captured the atmosphere of the times he was describing in a way that few writers have ever done. So I can very happily recommend the following:
When the Lion Feeds
The Sound of Thunder
Gold
A Sparrow Falls
Rags of Glory, by Stuart Cloete (Historical fiction)
A stirring novel about the Anglo-Boer War, seen through the eyes of both sides.
Stories by author Herman Charles Bosman, South Africa's greatest short story writer (Fiction)
I have read O Henry, I have read Bosman, and I prefer Bosman. I suppose that is because I am South African, not American. But Bosman's tales are delightful, capturing the life of the simple folk of the country in a way that will entertain anyone from anywhere.
Bosman's stories are collected in a number of anthologies. The best known titles are Mafeking Road and Unto Dust. However, you should avoid Cold Stone Jug, a sombre and often depressing account that Bosman wrote of a spell in prison.
Jock of the Bushveld, by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick (autobiographical - possibly embroidered!)
Percy Fitzpatrick was in his teens when he left home and went to seek his fortune in the goldfields of the Eastern Transvaal. There he became a transport rider, following the trail to the sea at Delagoa Bay, right through what is today the Kruger National Park. These are the adventures of Fitzpatrick and his dog, Jock of the Bushveld.
Jock has become the most famous dog in the history of South Africa, and the book has become one of South Africa's great classics. Suitable for adults and teens, with abridged versions available for younger readers. It is an absolute must-read.
Long Walk to Freedom, by Nelson Mandela (autobiography)
Nelson Mandela's own story, in his own write. Compulsory reading for anyone who wants to dig beneath the surface of South Africa and find out what lies underneath. And, what's more, any profits go to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, so you are supporting a good cause, too.
Available in hardback, paperback, and abridged versions as well, so check what you are getting.
Books by author Peter Becker, historian of the kings (history)
Dr Peter Becker, an anthropologist, produced three definitive works on three of South Africa's most important tribal rulers.
Path of Blood tells the tale of Mzilikazi, founder and king of the Matabele people, who broke away from the Zulu nation, and swept a path of destruction through the sub-continent before coming to their present home at Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe.
Rule of Fear is the story of Dingane, who overthrew Chaka, king of the Zulu, and took his throne, only to become a tyrant himself, and to lead the Zulu to their greatest defeat.
Hill of Destiny is about Moshesh, founder and king of the Basotho people; how he forged his tribe from the refugees in a wasted land, and found them a home which they retain to this day.
Meticulously researched, well-written, stirring stuff. All three are highly recommended.
Shaka Zulu, by E A Ritter (history)
Curiously, Peter Becker did not write the story of the greatest tyrant king of them all. However, Ritter does a fine job of telling the story of Shaka, the man who built the Zulu from a minor clan to a mighty nation.
Rope of Sand, by John Laband (history)
This acclaimed work by a respected historian is an eminently readable account of the Zulu nation which does not limit itself to the two famous - or infamous- kings. It is more comprehensive and includes the Anglo-Zulu War, with its famous battles at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, and what befell the Zulus after that.
Commando, by Deneys Reitz (autobiographical)
Deneys Reitz was to the Boers what Winston Churchill was to the British - a well-connected youngster who managed to turn up wherever something important was happening. The fact that his daddy was a buddy of the great General Smuts did not do him any harm.
Reitz was in his teens when he and his brothers saddled up to fight the British in the Second Anglo-Boer War. This is one of the great books of that conflict, written in with a simple charm which is fair to both sides. Very highly recommended.
Goodbye, Dolly Gray, by Rayne Kruger (history)
One of the best histories of the Second Anglo-Boer War.
The Boer War, by Thomas Pakenham (history)
This is the other "best history" of the Anglo-Boer conflict, and tends to be regarded by academics as the definitive account. I think this is not really fair to Kruger, who wrote Goodbye, Dolly Gray quite a few years earlier. Perhaps the difference is that Goodbye, Dolly Gray is more about who went where and did what, while Pakenham had access to more documents, and could be more analytical about why people acted as they did.
Pakenham's book also exonerates the famous General Buller, while Rayne Kruger's work supports the original notion that he was something of a bumbler. I suppose it is logical, that the Brits, who are a much bigger market, should prefer a book by a Brit that is kinder to their much decorated general!!
My Traitor's Heart, by Riaan Malan (autobiography)
Written literally "from the heart" a young Afrikaner comes to terms with what it means to belong to one of the most reviled nations on earth.
Hold my Hand I'm Dying, by John Gordon Davis (contemporary historical novel)
Passionate novel of Rhodesia in the days of UDI. Adventure, romance, sex, and you can almost smell the bushveld.
Mukiwa, by Peter Godwin (autobiography)
Mukiwa is to Zimbabwe what My Traitor's Heart is to South Africa. A young white Rhodesian recounts his experiences.
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Read them. They'll tell you what's on our minds at any particular time. You will find out what makes us laugh and what makes us cry, what pleases us and what angers us.
The Weekly Mail and Guardian (nationwide, including neighbouring territories, every Friday)
South Africa's "quality" newspaper, with an honourable history of investigative reporting, and known for it's fearless approach to to the failings of both the apartheid government and its successor. Partly owned by Guardian of the UK, it reports some of the main British and world news as well. Good coverage of major issues in the neighbouring countries too.
The Sunday Times (nationwide, including neighbouring territories, Sundays)
Also a paper that has built an honourable reputation for fearless journalism. Like the Mail and Guardian, has ruthlessly hammered the apartheid government in its time, and now spotlights failings of the present regime. Excellent business section, fair coverage of international news. Plus a lot of sex and scandal in order to keep the readership up. Southern Africa's biggest selling newspaper by far.
The Star (weekdays, Johannesburg, Pretoria and environs. Saturday and Sunday editions as well)
Respected but rather conservative, the Star is South Africa's biggest daily. Covers international, South African and Gauteng stories. Owned by Independent Newspapers, carries a very good business supplement called Business Report.
The weekend editions are packed with general articles to cater for many interests. Good reading value.
The Citizen (weekdays, Johannesburg, Pretoria and environs)
Easy to read tabloid. Sharply critical of present government. Daily crime report gathers all the horror stories in one column, and makes for grisly reading. Good business section.
The Sowetan (weekdays, Johannesburg, Pretoria and environs)
Biggest circulation black daily in South Africa. Many of the stories will be meaningless to visitors, but many will give the visitor an insight into how black South Africans see certain issues. An ideal way of teaching yourself to see an issue from more than just the western angle. Printed in English.
The Natal Mercury (weekday mornings, Durban and environs)
No nonsense coverage of main international, South African and KwaZulu Natal news. Useful guide to what's on in Durban and KwaZulu Natal.
The Port Elizabeth Herald (weekdays, including Saturdays, Port Elizabeth and Garden Route)
Inexpensive and doesn't carry much, but will cover anything earth shattering in the previous twenty-four hours, whether international or local, and is the main source of what's happening in the Eastern Cape.
The Argus (weekdays, Cape Town. Saturday and Sunday editions as well)
The Argus is Cape Town's biggest daily. It is the sister publication of the Johannesburg Star, and carries the same Business Report supplement. The evening entertainment supplement is very useful.
The Saturday Argus is packed with news and general interest articles, as well as the property supplement, which will give you an idea of property and prices in Cape Town and the surrounding areas. Also useful as a "What's on in Cape Town this weekend" guide.
The Financial Mail (business magazine, Fridays, nationwide wherever likely readers may be found)
Obviously for businessmen only, but it's an excellent publication, and if you want to know how we, and our companies, are doing, don't miss it.
The Zimbabwe Herald (weekdays, Harare and main Zimbabwean centres)
Controlled by the Zimbabwe government, this one wins no prizes for journalism or objectivity. However, it provides a fascinating insight into how blame can be shifted when a government owns the major newspapers.
The Financial Gazette (weekly, Harare and main Zimbabwean centres)
Zimbabwe's independent press, whose journalists occasionally go to jail for their trouble. Should be read in conjunction with the Herald.
The Swaziland Times and Swaziland Observer (weekdays, Swaziland)
These two slight journals will not enlighten you much about the big wide world, but they will give you a fascinating, and often amusing, insight into what life is about when you are not part of the big wide world. An interesting reminder that the big wide world is made up of millions of little people, whose daily concerns are, to them, far more immediate than the power politics that dominate international headlines.
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NEWSPAPERS ON LINE
| Independent Newspaper Group -daily on line | http://www.iol.co.za |
| Mail and Guardian daily on line | http://www.mg.co.za |
| Sunday Times - weekly on line | http://www.suntimes.co.za |
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You may contact me by e-mail. Click on ronmac@iafrica.com
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