South Africa Books

This is a compelling story, but it's full of inference and excessively fluffy. From a historian's perspective Huffman does not have enough evidence to be legitimate. If you're looking for a real history of either Mississippi or West Africa (my two areas of expertise) look elsewhere.

A 20th century Missisipian explores how the actions of a few slaveholders before the Civil war have affected modern history. A very good read.

Huffman takes readers through quite a journey as he gives the history of abolitionists in Mississippi and the ultimate return of blacks to Africa. His story is fascinating and I simply couldn't put down the book until I read every page.

What a great story. This book covers so many subjects in a complete and interesting way. There is the detective story of the slaves of Prospect Hill Plantation and their lives, a story of the current state of affairs in southern Mississippi and finally a gripping account of modern day Liberia and its turbulent history. Just a great story that I wished would go on longer.

Alan Huffman's book on the history of a group of freed slaves, their journey back to Africa and the modern story of Liberia is important and very interesting. Huffman gives us (1) a view of life and history that formed our society and culture in Mississippi, (2) provides an overview of Liberia's history and our connection to it (a chapter of US history that is seldom mentioned ... I never heard of Liberia and the US role in its founding before arriving in West Africa in 1978), and (3) shows that Faulkner was right in saying that the past continues to impact us.

In 1978 I went to Guinea Bissau,West Africa, to work on a USAID (foreign aid) program in the country's rice growing region. It was there that I heard, for the first time, of a group of freed slaves returning to Africa and establishing a country, Liberia, in 1821 with it's capital named after the fifth US president James Monroe. By 1838, 20,000 American blacks (ex-slaves and freed men --- including the slave group from Jefferson County that was the subject of his research) made up the population of the Colonization Society and Liberia. Today the descendants of these settlers make up about 5 percent of Liberia's population. This elite group dominated the political and economic sectors for more that 150 years. A backlash against this group in 1980 by descendants of local tribesmen caused the chaos that grips modern day Liberia. It's important to me and you today because of the potential links that states in chaos have to terrorist groups (Huffman talks of the potential laundering of Al Queda money through diamond sales in Liberia and the attempt to use the country as a conduit for the purchase of illegal arms --- including stinger missles).

Huffman brings the reader full circle and gives interesting details of his research and the people he meets along the way. He also provides details on our Mississippi history about slave and slaveholder interaction and the cultural values it imprinted on our society. I also liked the tidbits of history like the origin of Alcorn State University (evolving from a school for the sons of plantation owners to the first land grant college in the United States). This is a good book that I highly recommend.

This is an absolutely incredible book about the story of AIDs in South Africa. Never before has the AIDs crisis been made so real to the reader. The story is focused around hero Nkosi Johnson's short life and legacy. Jim Wooten did a wonderful job of conveying the emotion and struggle of this conflict which is the greatest enemy of Africa today. Whoever gave this book two stars for not saying Wooten got across the emotion, must not have a pulse. I highly recommend this book for your own good of exposure to the AIDs crisis. There is something for all of us to learn from this story.

The book was initially purchased and discussed as a part of my participation in a book club. I purchased three more copies and sent them to friends knowing they would enjoy this book as I did.

It is a very touching book and I would recommend it to everyone. I received the book in a little over a week and it was in perfect condition.

My name is Sewon, and I am a freshman in high school. In one of my classes, I had to read a book, We Are All The Same by Jim Wooten. The cover of the book tempted me at first because it was a real story and the comments of other people were praiseful. Although I had a hard time reading this book at first because several chapters such as chapter 1 and 2 were really boring, it was a really good book to read, overall. To briefly describe the book, this book represents the life of Gail Johnson and Nkosi. Gail is a woman who adopts a boy from South Africa, a segregated country, who is living with AIDS. This book shows many important qualities that we must have in life, such as courage and equality. Since this is a real story, this is more interesting and realistic. While I was reading this book, I felt as though I was part of the book. The strength of this book is that the book is not that long. The readers may become bored when the book is too long. a majority of pages tells of life's teachings while using very eloquent language. I really think this is the best book for any of the teenagers who are interested in reading the book! I really enjoyed reading the book and I strongly recommend it for teenagers.

Loved this book. I learned so much about the history (and present) of South Africa. And what it was like for a real person to live through it. Addressing issues from both sides and through three generations. This story was definitely told by someone passionate about the subject and emotionally involved with the characters--in a good way. I am so thankfuls that someone has told Nkosi's story and the story of South Africa. It is pretty even and doesn't shy away from the flaws of its heroes or the truth of the times. Very well told, a must read to anyone who wants to consider themselves educated and interested in international matters. The AIDS crisis isn't something anyone can ignore anymore and this book really brings it home. Also, just a great story.

The book not only features the story told by Donald Woods but has extensive court interviews with Biko showing his true ideas that scared the racist government of South Africa so much that they had him killed.

Excellent book.

This is much more than a simple biography of Steve Biko, the leader of the Black Consciousness movement in South Africa and one of the seminal figures in the anti-apartheid movement, it is an insider's look and condemnation of the System. Though Biko died young and apartheid has faded into memories for most people who had the misfortune of living in it, his is an excellent example of the horroific prejudices to which people, even in these enlightened times, can be subjected. This book uses incredible detail and many essential sources to tell a lively, powerful, and important story. I watched Cry Freedom several years ago and was inspired tolearn more about the subject, and I would recommend the same path, because the movie really brings the characters and issues to life. I would caution people who only want to learn the basics about the history of apartheid or Biko, that this is a very indepth and detailed book, that can be difficult to follow if you are not familiar with the subjects, so I might recommend a slightly more elementary book for a first experience.

Woods wrote this book to show the world how desperate the need for change was in south Africa. There is a vast seperation between the black natives and the whites in south africa, up until recently the country lived under a currupt white goverment which did not allow blacks to live in white towns as anything other then slaves, forcd them into awful getto which had awful living conditions, taught them in school only what they needed to know to serve the whites, and constently terrorised their neighborhoods. Steve Biko stood up peicefully, not demanding radical change, but understanding that he must change what has happened to his people. Black Contiousness was his approch. He wanted the natives of south africa to learn their own history at school and not the whites, he wanted them to have pride in themselves and understand their own humanity. Steve Biko was band and very liking killed for saying this. Blacks who stood up in South Africa always seemed to die in police custodity one way or another. After his death Woods was inspired to write this book, he was band in South Africa and risked his life to escape the country with his book. This is a must read for anyone who is not educated about the hardships of South Africa or Africa as a whole.

The number one element stopping Blacks today is the absence of consciousness and the Orisha Biko exudes that. His essays are honest and concise and he gives you a glimpse of what South Africa was like and the resistance by him and a number of other Africans. Blacks have to be leading the league in terms of 'liberation literature' but it doesn't matter because they don't read and when they do it's not material like this. Hence, the situation remains.

Despite the dramatic shift in the political climate of South Africa since his death, Biko's words and beliefs are every bit as relevant today. His Black Consciousness movement was as much a political force against apartheid as it was an indictment of self-inflicted notions of inferiority. This book powerfully tells the story of Biko's life, his beliefs and the circumstances of living in banishment in South Africa. In the absence of any physical memorial for Biko, this book is a powerful rememberance to a man who should not be forgotten, and a tribute to an author who bravely brought us Biko's story.

Is blood thicker than, well ..... diamonds! Wilbur Smith, writing in 1971, explores the rivalry between an estranged foster-child and heir to the Van Der Byl diamond fortune and his rival "brother" Benedict. Throw in the love of a woman and whammo you gotta adventure novel.

"The Diamond Hunters", while not Smith's best novel, is nevertheless a fantastic read. As Smith's has matured over the years his novels have become a bit more tedious. Not so with Hunters.

"The Diamond Hunters" comes right at you from the first page. There is action, adventure, love and scenery.

Just about every Wilbur Smith novel is good. This one will not disappoint you. It is fun, fast and entertaining. Well worth your time...

Densel Myers
Yukon, Oklahoma

I am sorry the books were a gift but the recepent gives great reviews and wishes to have more from that auther'

Wilbur Smith just proves how good he is this is a must read book with characteristics of betrayal and loyalty coming into the fray.The ending was not finished strongly but never the less another work of art by Wilbur Smith

This novel was written over 30 years ago. It is not as polished as his newer books but it contains all the elements that make Smith one of the masters of action and adventure. Exotic locale, unforgettable characters and a prose that takes you `there'.

Let Wilbur take you to a trip to Africa, you will be coming back for more.

I have seen Wilbur Smith novels on the bookshelves for years but for one reason or another none of them had ever really piqued my interest, but while browsing in an airport bookstore looking for something to read on a long flight I picked this one up and as I began to read I found that my flight was too short. I didn't want to be interrupted for something as trivial as changing flights. I intend to read more Wilbur Smith in the near future.

The way Smith builds the story of Johnny Lance being an outcast and the way that he discovers the truth about his childhood and the animosity that builds between him and his foster brother Benedict Van der Byle makes for a spellbinding read. Smith's descriptions of the African landscape and exotic locations are well written without being over-done. When he describes Thunderbolt and Suicide you can smell the salt air and see the foamy spray shooting skyward and hear the crashing of the huge waves against the unyielding rock formations.

Like all fiction stories this one is not for everyone, but if you enjoy action/adventure, emphasis on action you will find this a very enjoyable read.

Beverly Naidoo, the author of No Turning Back was born in Johannesburg South Africa 1943. She won a Newberry award and she has written many books such as Journey to Jo'Burg and Chain of Fire. In No Turning Back Sipho runs away from home to escape from his stepfather's horrible abuse. He meets a gang and he follows them around the city learning the ways to survive on the street. Sipho has to endure cold harsh nights sleeping on the freezing hard ground with an empty stomach. I think that this book is very interesting because the author wrote about her hometown and therefore she understands the setting. It also is interesting because it teaches people how other people live in poor countries, and why some children run away from home. It is also interesting because the main character goes though lots of trouble with drunk people, homeless people and police officers. The book No Turning Back is a good book because it is very exciting and action packed, I recommend this amazing book.

The author of No Turning back is Beverly Naidoo. She was born in Johannesburg South Africa in 1943. Her involvement with the anti-apartheid led her to be imprisoned in solitary confinement at age 21.
The main idea in the book is this 12 year old boy named Sipho that ran away from home because his stepfather abused him. When he was on the streets he joined a gang of homeless kids and ran into problems like being hungry, losing clothes and running away from strangers. My opinion on the book No Turning Back is that is a good thriller and it really develops the main character. The only thing I don't like about the book is the ending. I liked it because it was a thriller I couldn't put it down.

Beverley Naidoo was born in Johannesburg South Africa which is where the book takes place. She won a newberry award for the book Journey to Jo'burg. In No Turning Back, a 12 year old boy named Sipho runs away from his family after being abused by his stepfather in Johannesburg. He was homeless so he decided to join a gang. The gang went through many things like getting thrown in a lake and homeless people stealing their hideout. I like most of this book because it is action packed and there's a lot of events in this book. It's also not boring to read because all of the parts of the book are very interesting like the part where the gang got thrown into the lake at night. The book is also exciting because it has a lot of emotion in it. Even when the book gets to a part where it's calm, something suddenly will happen making it interesting. I recommend this book for people that like action packed adventures.

This is a novel about a boy in South Africa who runs away from home because of his abusive stepfather. In the beginning it is about the boy's life on the streets and his adventures with the Malude. This part of the book is interesting and exciting, but the second half of the book gets boring, because he starts to live with a family, just like a regular kid. Overall I thought that this book was not that interesting, and I would not recomend it.

Beverley Naidoo is an award winning author. Her book No Turning Back is exceptional. The story takes place in South Africa in the early 1990s, where a young black African boy of twelve years named Sipho makes a decision to leave home to avoid further abuse from his violent stepfather. Sipho makes his way to the streets of Johannesburg. Survival on the streets is sometimes just as hard and cruel as life with his stepfather. Learning who you can trust, hunger and cold nights are a few of the problems Sipho faces.
The author in my opinion touches base on many issues including homeless street children, drugs, racism and a country on the verge of change. The book shows many examples on how the South African's rose to support Nelson Mandela and his views of restructuring a troubled nation. The books realism gives readers a chance to become familiar with life in South Africa. Sipho struggles are those of everyday people in this region of the world. I would recommend this book as one not to pass over. You can follow Sipho from being alone, threw new friendships and his hopes for a better tomorrow.

Every now and then my life gets so jumbled, or my hormones rise or fall and depression sets in, and I just need a rousing good laugh. That's when I pick up this book. It has never failed to at least amuse or, more often, to induce a tears-in-my-eyes unrestrained laughing fit. While this can be disconcerting to co-workers in nearby cubicles, it nevertheless works wonders for my sour moods.

Totally loony in a restrained British (or in this case, South African) manner, this tale of apartheid, fetishism, gender role swapping, gigantic firearms and novocaine in the mythical South African town of Piemburg is quite simply a hoot.

That it works better than Prozac as a mood leveler (Fair warning-- I'm not a psychiatrist, I just play one on Amazon!) is a wonderful bonus.

This is political farce with a vengeance. The back jacket on the paperback says this book is not a political book in any imagined sense of that term and that's essentially true. The author's position on the old South African regime is pretty clear from the word "go" but it never dampens the fun.

The book is so over the top that its characters come off as cardboard cutouts of a caricature--yet, somehow, Sharpe still finds a way to imbue them with enough connective personality that we are drawn into the farce willingly. The book is extremely funny--I laughed out loud at least twenty times. It is a rather crude undertaking--but then again, so was the old South Africa, and this books achieves the unique aspect of being extremely sexually explicit while never actually rendering an actual sex scene--not for want of trying on the "heroines" part.

All in all a lot of fun is the crudity and explicitness don't put you off. If that's the case, seek humor elsewhere.

I enjoyed it enough that I have ordered another couple of Sharpe's books to see if they are as good. I have high hopes on that score.

This decidedly intemperate dark jewel has been criticized for, among other things, being short on a coherent logical plot. Fair enough. And saturated with unsympathetic characters. Point taken. So what? If you can find a better written rant of absurd, politically incorrect, howlingly hilarious black (as in motif, not ethnic) humor by all means set Riotous Assembly aside and go with your more entertaining discovery, and be so kind as to post its name here so that we may all partake.

Compared to Riotous Assembly, Mel Brooks' best sounds like a grim Savonarola tract.

If you're ever in the mood for a hugely over-the-top farce about apartheid-era South Africa, well, this is the book for you. Sharpe spent a decade there before being deported as a subversive, and after reading this unrestrained comic pummeling of the RSA, one can only wonder why it took the authorities so long to give him the boot. Indeed authority is target number one in this fast-paced story set in the small city of Piemburg. It all starts when an elderly semi-aristocratic Englishwoman calls the police to report that she's shot her Zulu cook. Refusing police Kommandant van Heerden's best attempts to cover up the matter, she reveals that the cook was also her lover, which so appalls him that he immediately declares a state of emergency and mobilizes the entire police force. And so begins a massive comedy of errors, in which a "Kaffir-Killer" Konstabel Els plays a large role, as does the slimy Luitenant Veerkamp, and matters take a turn for the utterly bizarre, as rubber fetishes, bondage, a drunken bishop, porno films, cross dressing, and penile novocain injections are all introduced to the plot. As one might surmise from such a litany, the plot spins ever more wildly out of control until events come to a head at--appropriately enough--the insane asylum. All the antics are intermittently funny, and it's somewhat refreshing to see the horrors of apartheid treated with rather less than the usual gravitas. Worth a read if you've got a special interest in South Africa or a soft spot for broad farce, otherwise not all that noteworthy

In many respects, apartheid South Africa provides a great setting for farces and satirical novels. Tom Sharpe ably exploits the possibilities in this tale involving an interracial affair, a bishop who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a murder investigation by irredeemably dumb and racist Afrikaner policemen.
Parts of Riotous assembly are very funny and Sharpe maintains the hectic pace of the narrative throughout. But in the end, I was disappointed with this book. My dissatisfaction had nothing to do with being an Afrikaner or with an aversion to dark humour. Carl Hiaasen is one of my favourite authors, and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie version of Sharpe's Wilt. My problem was with the characters, who seemed to have no personalities whatsoever beyond the stereotypes they represent. To truly enjoy a book (even a farce), I have to develop an interest in or establish some kind of rapport with the characters, and in the case of Riotous assembly this never happened.

This book was very interesting and very easy too read. My only advice is DO NOT CHOOSE THIS BOOK FOR A RESEARCH PAPER!!! I found it close to impossible to find critical analysis on this book. I enjoyed the story though.

Alan Paton masterfully scripts a young man's descent into a sin that in segregated South Africa was the worst of all sins. Paton writes the narrative from the main character's (Pieter's) Aunt perspective and splices in first person narratives from Pieter's perspective. The Aunt is something of an all-knowing narrator with some limitations.

The novel sort of begins by revealing the conclusion that is also apparent from the novel's description or cover--that the white Lt. commits this grave act. It builds and builds to the final climax of total personal destruction and familial destruction. Paradoxically, there are hints of some type of liberation within the main character that are not really elaborated enough to be more than just hints.

Paton includes much foreshadowing and foreboding leading up to the final act. So it is not a surprise what happens; although, the enormity and devestating effects are.

What Paton has geniusly accomplished in the novel is the absurdity of the lives so many lead that appear moral, noble and successful but are hiding both depravity and suffering. His insights into the relationships and observations of people are a great lesson on male and female souls.

This is disturbing to read but worth it; although the feelings and thoughts I was left with were quite different than I had after reading Cry, the Beloved Country though just as profound.

Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays

A wonderful, wonderful, beautifully written book. It portrays with compassion, grace and understanding, the state of aparteid in South Africa.

In 10th grade I had to read two books for Global studies and one book for english. For one of my Global books I picked "Too Late The Phalarope". It was a good book, so good in fact that I read it in one day during a car trip. I found the book to be a bit confusing because of the writing style but the plot of the story is what kept me reading. I enjoyed the book so much I will not mind having to go through it a second time so I can take notes on it! This is one book I will look forward to reading again, even if it is just to take notes!

Until I read "Too Late the Phalarope," I could not imagine a novel richer and more rewarding than "Cry, the Beloved Country." Alan Paton obviously loved South Africa. In "Cry" he wrote of the wretched lives and condition of the black South African. But he imagined a better world through the lives of his major characters.

In "Too Late the Phalarope," published in 1953, five years after "Cry," Paton shows exactly how apartheid negatively affected whites, as well. Instead of murder the central crime in this novel is immorality. Yes, crime. It was on record, meaning against the law, for a white man to have sexual relations with a black South African.

The main character, Pieter van Vlaanderen, taller, stronger, smarter, and more successful than the average Afrikaaner, has a secret sin, a secret guilt: He is attracted to Stephanie, a black South Afrikaaner. What sets Pieter apart from others is his record as a war hero, an efficient lieutenant in the police force, and a celebrated soccer player from his region.

It is not a spoiler if I tell you that Pieter will be destroyed and the family ruined when Pieter is accused of immorality, then proven guilty. One way Paton avoids any description of this ill-gotten pleasure is to have an innocent narrator tell the story. Pieter's aunt, an unmarried woman, never loved by a man, is the narrator. Pieter's journal fills in details the aunt could not know.

Paton raises all sorts of ethical questions in his novel. Can a wife drive a man to another woman if she is unwilling to participate fully in the marriage bed? Does a man develop a weak character, although hidden, because his father is cruel and withholds love? The main question raised several times is this: If God fully forgives, if God gives grace, why then can't the state in crimes such as this? Not only is Pieter ruined, but so is his family, although grace does come into effect in this.

I found "Too Late the Phalarope" (a Phalarope is a bird and no, I cannot explain its meaning in the title), a richer novel than "Cry." It needs an immediate second reading to capture those nuances that run all through the novel that may elude the reader on first reading. And those ethical questions. This is the kind of book that would make an excellent choice for discussion in a book club.

In this violent text, an old woman learns that she has an incurable cancer. She meets her `angel of death' and together they pass the last months of her life in `a world of rage and violence', in a country (South-Africa) that is `a nightmare from beginning to end, with white zealots preaching the old regime of death to children some too young to tie their shoelaces.'

The deadly cancer of the old woman is an allegory of the country's own destination: `I have cancer from the accumulation of shame I have endured in my life. That is how cancer comes about: from self-loathing the body turns malignant and begins to eat away at itself.'
That eating away is `the reign of the locust family': children burning their own schools, and killing the young even if they are colored ones.
Like the old woman, the country is `a bad tempered old hound snoozing in the doorway, taking its time to die'. Like the old woman the country will turn into smoke and ash.

What is J.M. Coetzee's answer to this devastating situation? Denouncing, for `writing is the foe of death.'

With `Age of Iron', J.M. Coetzee has written an iron masterpiece.

In this novel first published in 1990, Mr Coetzee gives the grim account of both a human being facing imminent death and a country - South Africa - still immersed in the tragedy of the apartheid regime. Mrs Curren, a professor of classics in Cape Town, has just received the fatal news from her doctor, Dr Syfert, that she suffers from an incurable form of cancer. Part of the narrative consists in an imaginary letter Mrs Curren will never write to her daughter who left for America in 1976. Indeed she does not consider it to be just to share her burden with her daughter but, as she puts it, "to resist the craving to share my death", "to take my leave without bitterness" and "to embrace death as my own, mine alone." But since it is nearly impossible for her to approach death without the support of another human being, she ends up sharing her thoughts and life with Mr Vercueil, a tramp she finds one morning sleeping in the garden of her house.
Death is omnipresent in Mr Coetzee's work, not only Mrs Curren's but in the townships of Cape Town where the lives of the coloureds are worth next to nothing and therefore death is as common as life for the people obliged to live there. A powerful, sad and unforgettable tale whose characters and events cut to the bone.

One can't help but be touched by the personalities woven in this story. Far from stereotypes, the characters are given credibility as individuals, each with their own stories, each with their own reasons for action. Even with the fall of official apartheid, this book goes into the human condition, and with or without governmental promotion, apartheid or something very much like it, will always be with us.

As usual, we can trust Coetzee to deliver some brilliant insights on the human condition, most specifically as it related to South Africa during the last years of Apartheid. Here, however, I felt Coetzee's stiff, cold prose style and his inability to create rich and whole characters undermined the storytelling and left me wishing it held together a bit more tightly; as it is the characters feel very flat and the book loses its emotive force because of this. Still, it's definitely worth reading to get a sense of the reality of Apartheid and how a government can keep its own citizenry ignorant.

Interesting and non-obvious look at apartheid. This book raises questions such as: what responsibility does one have for the crimes of a government that have benefitted you - even if you find those crimes repulsive and didn't ask for them; what kind of future can a nation have when it's children have been so brutalized that they become brutalizors themselves. I also think, as my title implies, that this book really exposes the way a community can blind itself or be blinded by others, gov't, media, etc., to the carnage and horror taking place all around them. If you can believe that a South African would be blind to the inhumanity trangressing in their country, then it's not so hard to believe how people in less brutal situations can also not understand or believe what goes on in their community.

I purchased The Last Trek after returning from a recent business trip to South Africa in the hope that it would shed light on how the white minority in that country manoeuvred itself into the predicament it now faces. --- It certainly did hence my positive four stars rating of this book.

Recent events in Zimbabwe highlight the plight of ethnic minorities in countries ruled by an African majority. We have witnessed the steady disappearance one way or another of ethnic minorities across the African continent since the independence movement began in the late 1950's and 60's. Sometimes this has happened in a peaceful fashion like in Kenya where former British settlers quietly returned to the U.K. in the years following independence. Sometimes it's been abrupt and traumatic like when Idi Amin decided overnight to rob and deport Uganda's entire Indian community. Sometimes it's been horrific and bloody as recounted by former Portuguese citizens of Mozambique and Angola. Whatever the methods the end result has always been the same, reclamation of sovereignty by the African majority via the expulsion of non African minorities. With the exception of South Africa there are quite frankly no significant non African minorities in Sub Saharan Africa. This phenomenon is not restricted to Africa, I noticed a distinct lack of diversity driving around Harlem recently, in fact I challenge any non African to walk around let alone live in an African American neighbourhood.

Mr De Klerk clearly demonstrated in his book that he was very much aware of the consequences of black majority rule; he also expressed unease in regard to the totalitarian tactics used by the ANC to intimidate opponents during the elections. Towards the end of his book he poignantly describes the modern post apartheid South Africa which confirms his original fears: "There is growing anxiety over the intolerable levels of crime in the country, there is anger over the apparently systematic murder of white farmers..there is alarm over the decline in services and standards; there is a sense of grievance over the reverse racial discrimination in unfairly applied affirmative action; there is deep concern over the perception that whites are now being made the scapegoats for all the ills of our society and that, in the future, the ANC will blame us for their failure to deliver on the promises they made to their supporters; there is disillusion over the perceptions that whites are no longer really welcome in the new South Africa unless they conform with the ANC's model." (p.394-395)

Despite numerous diatribes on the part of the author reflecting on the moral righteousness of his actions Mr De Klerk leaves the reader with the distinct impression at the end of the book that the new South Africa he helped bring into being is a failure. There is a sense of unease about the future facing white South Africans, which the author tries to reconcile by arguing that the new South Africa was inevitable: "This book is, in essence, the story of how we, at last, confronted those realities and dismantled the laager of apartheid."(p.390). After reading this book however I would argue that Mr De Klerk was more than a pragmatist, he betrayed his people. By his people I mean the white minority that voted him into office, not the entire South African Nation over whom he had no franchise.

Yes, I agree with Mr De Klerk's view that the dismantling of apartheid was inevitable however my concern is that he did so without providing his people with any form of safeguard in case the new rainbow nation did not work out. The tragedy of South Africa is best summarized by the following quotation from an eminent Zulu leader: "Towards the end of our meeting King Goodwill said that he anticipated that things would go worse in the new South Africa than they had gone in other African countries. He said that he had nowhere to run to with his white and black brothers."(p.307) These words are haunting because they encapsulate the key difference between the impending decolonisation of South Africa vs. every other former European colony; this time there is nowhere for the European minority to run to. Former colonists with British, French, Belgian and Portuguese passports could go home when things got tough, in the same way that Korean families fled African American neighbourhoods in L.A. after the last spate of rioting and racial intimidation. South African minorities don't have this option.

Mr De Klerk was certainly not naive, nor was he an idealist; he was a pragmatist with an understanding of African history who knew that his people faced at best an uncertain future under black majority rule. Despite this he refused to demand any form of genuine guarantee for their safety lest it impede his growing fame as a world statesman. In the early nineties from a position of strength Mr De Klerk could have demanded dual nationality from the Western powers for every European, Cape Coloured and Indian South African, this should have been a non negotiable prerequisite to black majority rule given the history of that continent. If countries like the U.K., Holland, U.S.A, Australia and Canada, not to mention the Nordic nations were serious about dismantling apartheid they would have been hard put as a group not to give in to such a request, especially if they genuinely believed that democracy would lead to prosperity and peace.

Despite my personal differences with the author I highly recommend this book as a stimulating, provocative read which provides a background to the upcoming tragedy about to unfold in Southern Africa.

I think F W De Kelrk is a visionary in the sense that he forwsaw dire consequences for the Afrikaaners had they not relinquished power. The whole world watched in horror but did nothing when rwanda happened in 1994 the same could have been the case in South Africa had not De Kelrk swallowed his immense afrikaaner pride and said to himself "we ruled the country for 44 years and we were wrong, i either throw in the towel now and admit to the errors of my people or we go down the firy path of ethnic conflict (Bosnia 1992-1995) and possibly genocide (Rwanda 1994)" This was a nobel act in itself, but de Klerk has his faults, he was an admirer of Hendrik Verwoerd, the architech of modern aparthied and the Mengele of a latter day, in his youth. He was corrupt but so was Winnie Mandela, in one sense he was the best of a rather bad lot, next to the likes of John Vorster and P W Botha the man was a saint, but i would not go so far as to call him a savior for his people. He spared them from destruction but he was not able to do more. In todays S Africa AIDS, rape, violence, theft, and corrupt are rife, all are exposed to it equally now but i suppose nelson mandela has just as much to blame for that as does mr de kelerk

De Klerk realized early in his political career that Apartheid was dead and would continue to ostracize South Africa. With the dissipating threat of Communism on South Africa's borders, how could South Africa justify its policies? De Klerk steered through the policies that gave birth to Apartheid in 1948, and set the National Party and the White electorate on a course towards reconciliation. De Klerk was a pragmatist and a man of peace. Releasing Mandela from prison and negotiating a constitutional blueprint for the future, New South Africa is an accomplishment realized by few.

THis is the ultimate book on the resting place of SOuth AFrica. Klerk details his childhood, explaining his roots in Afrikaner culture(thus the title 'THe Last Trek'). He talks about the war years and about the victory of the nationist party and the begginings of aprthied under Malan and Verwoerd. He also talks about the heady years of Botha(the imperial president). he explains the meaning of the word 'coloured' talking about the Cape coloureds and he talks about the Indian voting blocks. THis is a book about a great nation and its tormented past. Deeply divided and ethnically challenged South Africa is struggling today to escape its past. Rape and crime is higher then ever in modern day S. Africa. land invasions are the norm. Mr. De Klerk may be regretting what he accomplished but this book is the ultimate study of the ultimate questions concerning race.

This book gives great insight into the workings of the apartheid edifice from its inception to its collapse. De Klerk gives a candid account. He however comes accross as somewhat dismissive and patronizing to the point of insults to the black majority of his native country. The black people of South Africa and their struggles against an oppressive and openly racist system are simply brushed over as a footnote to the events that led to the collapse of apartheid. Injustices such as the ownership of 75 percent of the country by a minority that is barely 13 percent are glossed over as mere logistical problems.

An important point to note on crime:

While the crime rate in South Africa is unacceptably high, it is necessary to note that this has only become a major issue now that the white minority are exposed to the consequences of economic inequalities created under apartheid. The crime rate was kept artificially low during apartheid by segregation laws and a ruthless racist police force. From the black perspective, there is no significant increase in the crime rate. Indeed there has been a major reduction of state sanctioned violence against the black majority since the end of apartheid.

This book is excellent if you want to look into the mind and workings of one of the most vile systems of governance ever conceived and implemented.

I can't really say more than what has already been said. The book is just a wonderful text to read through. It's easy to read, and the author is great with giving details and weaving them into the story without losing the reader attention. Very much recommended.

Rorke's Drift was a heroically fought but pointless battle in a savagely waged but peripheral war, the ill-conceived invasion in 1879 of Zululand by a small British Army under Lord Chelmsford, known to history as the Anglo-Zulu War. Snook, a serving officer in the modern regiment descended from the 1st / 24th regiment that defended Rorke's Drift, provides an exhaustive and detailed monograph on the battle.

Though as a general reader I would not know if Snook made factual or interpretive errors, his study seems impressively and meticulously researched and he writes well, sometimes stirringly. Indeed, the middle third of the book, which tells the almost incredible story of how a group of 139+ British soldiers, a quarter of them sick, successfully fought off repeated attacks by approximately 3,000 - 4,500 Zulus, makes for compelling and absorbing reading. Although writing exclusively from the British viewpoint (there are no Zulu written sources, after all), he tells a little about the Zulu command structure and commanders and shows admiration for the fighting qualities of Zulu warriors. I also liked that he decries war rather than glorifies it: ultimately, this tribute to the bravery of the heroes of Rorke's Drift concludes by making the timely point that their story 'epitomise[s] the folly of waging war except as a genuine measure of last resort.' I agree.

The book has lovely color plates, and good maps of the Rorke's Drift mission itself. One other great feature of the book is its extensive appendices, which include rosters of the soldiers who fought at Rorke's Drift and some firsthand accounts, as well as Chard's report to Queen Victoria, and an analysis of the battlefield. Good stuff for the research historian.

The main reason I even knew anything, prior to reading this book, about Rorke's Drift was Stanley Baker's great 1964 movie about it, which of course contains numerous instances of artistic license (e.g., sadly there was no inspiring rendition of 'Men of Harlech,' no 'saluting of fellow braves,' etc.); indeed I was surprised to learn that the movie gets a few things quite wrong (Harry Hook was not a dissolute malingerer, but a clean-living teetotaler, for instance). In contrast to the film which depicts mass charges of Zulu impis wielding assegais and cowhide shields, Snook shows that many of the Zulus had muskets, though they didn't know how to sight them well, and jumped from cover to cover. In addition, the movie shows the British soldiers often using mass volleys of rifle fire, which Snook argues was ahistorical.

Why not 5 stars? I found it a little irritating that, despite the subtitle, much of the book focuses on the Battle of Isandlwana, the disaster that took place earlier on Jan.22 of which Rorke's Drift was the aftermath. Snook even devotes much of his post-mortem discussion to allocating blame for the Isandlwana debacle.

I also found the discussion of blame somewhat beside the point: Chelmsford was not even at Isandlwana, and the subsequent imperial government inquiry that fixed blame on him obviously needed a scapegoat for the disaster. Ultimately, Chelmsford's error was to have a mindset -- underestimating the Zulus' fighting abilities -- that was probably shared by much of the British leadership. Moreover, Chelmsford was the victor at the battle (Ulundi) that ended the war, and neither his peers nor Snook give him much credit for this achievement. Steeped as he is in the ethos of the British military establishment, Snook agrees with the verdict of the government inquiry. I think there is some room at least for disagreement.

I made the mistake of tackling this book without reading Snook's earlier volume on Isandlwana, How Can Men Die Better, and consequently found the substantial portion of this book that treats Isandlwana and its aftermath difficult to follow. I believe I would have enjoyed and understood more if I had read that volume first, so I would recommend doing that before reading this book if you are not already knowledgeable about the Battle of Isandlwana.

Overall, though, there is no denying that Snook has written an essential book for anyone who wants to understand this sanguinary episode in the history of British arms. Snook's study is probably destined to be a definitive treatment of Rorke's Drift.

This book should be required reading for anyone interested in the Anglo-Zulu War. Not only does Lt. Col. Snook explain in great detail the events of the defense of Rorke's Drift in great detail but he also brings to life the men who were involved in this climactic battle. This is a ground breaking book which sheds light on a little known yet amazing occurence in military history. Unlike the other historians who have written on this battle Lt. Col. Snook has researched The Battle of Rorke's Drift in depth and his work over the years shows itself on every page. 'Like Wolves on the Fold' builds upon Snook's other book 'How Can Man Die Better' and both when read one after the other form an excellent and essential history on the AZW. As a military historian I highly recommend them both.

LWotF is an almost minute-by-minute account of the battle of Rorke's Drift. While militarily insignificant, the story of this small battle was much popularized by the 1964 movie "Zulu" (which is still pretty good, even in light of the special effects of today's big-battle productions).

The extent of the research is impressive but the book is a dry read. I suppose one can only do so much with so narrow a topic. I believe the author is the official historian of the particular British regiment involved, so he has a pretty targeted audience. Personally, I would have prefered a more complete discussion, placing the battle in its wider historical context.

If you're looking to understand the Zulu Wars or British colonial history in Africa, look elsewhere. If, for some reason, you have a particularized interest in this specific historical footnote of an event (or if you're interested in knowing how accurate the movie was), then this is the book for you.

This book proves to be a nice follow-up to Snook's previous effort, How Can Man Die Better which covers the Battle of Isandlwana. This book covers the Defense of Rorke's Defense where a single company of the 24th Regiment held off the Zulu forces many times their strength.

Rorke's Drift is one of these battles of which many books have already been written about and this one proves to be quite readable, very well researched and in a typical style of the author, you feel at times that you are in there with the troops. It doesn't say anything truly new here but it does add fresh perception to the battle and the author enjoyed on few occasions to compared the real account with the film account, Zulu, starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine. The book also gives a great insight into the soldiers who fought with such desperation. The narrative was often "hero oriented" in telling. Zulu side was also present but limited in form. The heart and soul of this book lies in the retelling of the Rorke's Drift from the Anglo-centric point of view. Although the account of the battle proves to be bit on the short side, it was clearly written and easy to follow. Unlike one of the previous reviewers, I thought the author's prose was quite good and passage flows very nicely.

The book come well illustrated with diagrams of Rorke's Drift that reflects very nicely on the battle. There are quite a few photographs and color paintings that also proves to be quite good.

But in all honesty, if I had to choose one book on Rorke's Drift, it probably won't be this one. I would choose Adrian Greaves' Rorke's Drift book which is far more detailed, superior in-depth book on the subject. Snook's book is good and worthy of the four stars but it been done before. I think one of the main weaknesses of the book lies with the fact that Snook didn't spend that much on battle itself. There are considerable amount of material in the book that dealt with Isandlwana, rest of the Zulu Wars and so forth. Personally, I would prefer a book about Rorke's Drift to be about Rorke's Drift.

In conclusion, I would recommended this book to any reader interested in the early stages of the Zulu War even if it may not be the best book on the subject.