Our South African coverage is focused on the transition from the Apartheid regime to a democratic one. For a general picture Alec Russell, the Financial Times’ former Johannesburg bureau chief offers his best books on South Africa. John Carlin, another journalist who covered the country during the transition from Apartheid to democracy gives his best books on Understanding Mandela and South Africa. He stresses the use Mandela made of forgiveness in achieving his political objectives. Colleen Murphy speaks at length on the country as a paradigm in her interview on her best books on Transitional Justice.
Jonny Steinberg chooses his best books on identity in the country and Kevin Bloom his best books on post-Apartheid identity in South Africa. Justin Cartwright also looks at the country in discussing his best books on Being White in Africa.
Imraan Coovadia chooses his five best books on the country’s fiction. Daniel Norcross discusses cricket controversies during the Apartheid era and Steve Bloomfield talks about the role of football pre- and post-Apartheid in his discussion of World Football.
The journalist Heather Brooke talks about the role of newspapers in Apartheid South Africa in her best books on Holding Power to Account and issues related to the country are also touched on by the Ghanaian economist, George Ayittey in his best books on Africa through African Eyes and by the historian David Olusoga on his best books on Race and Slavery.
The best books on Nelson Mandela and South Africa, recommended by John Carlin
Nelson Mandela was a most unusual and unusually astute leader, says journalist and author of Playing the Enemy, John Carlin. He chooses the best books to understand Nelson Mandela, who used forgiveness as a political tool, and South Africa, the country he brought peacefully out of apartheid.
The best books on Post-Apartheid Identity, recommended by Kevin Bloom
The award-winning South African writer Kevin Bloom discusses five books that bring light to post-apartheid South Africa with focus on the predicament of the white South African. Do whites ‘deserve’ to feel at home in their country?
