As South Africa prepares for its general elections, immerse yourself
in a literary odyssey through our beautiful country’s rich tapestry.
From the pulse of Johannesburg to the tranquillity of the Garden
Route, each page unveils the soul of the nation. Explore the resilience
of its people, savour the flavours of its cuisine, and marvel at the
majesty of its landscapes. These books offer a glimpse into South
Africa's essence, inspiring celebration and understanding. Join us
on this journey to honour its diversity, embrace its history, and ignite
a deeper connection with the vibrant spirit of South Africa.
LANDSCAPES
of Natural Splendour
Hiking Cape Town
by Evelyn John Holtzhausen
The mountains and forests in and around Cape Town are a hiker’s paradise, offering an array of excursions to suit both new converts and seasoned ramblers. Hiking Cape Town covers 35 exciting hikes on the Cape Peninsula and further afield, ranging from easy to moderate, with a number of more demanding trails for those who want to up their game. From classic hikes up the front face of Table Mountain and half-day hikes in the remote Cape Point, to gentle rambles along the coast and walks in mountains and nature reserves a short drive from the city, this book encompasses the area’s must-do routes. Each description provides easy-to-follow directions and specifies the approximate walking time (between 3 and 7 hours), distance, difficulty rating and terrain.
Hidden Karoo
by Alain Proust & Pat Kramer
The Karoo is big sky country; a land of vast plains punctuated by flat-topped mountains, conical hills and secluded valleys, a land of scrubby bushes and hardy trees, where pioneers carved roads out of rock to set down roots in an unforgiving environment. Hidden Karoo presents a snapshot of the region, offering a glimpse into towns and villages, farms and churches, public buildings and private homes, all against a backdrop of awe-inspiring landscapes. Through words and pictures, it prompts us to consider what was, what is and, perhaps, what might be.
The West Coast
by Leon Nell
Beginning at Melkbosstrand just north of Cape Town, and ending where the Orange River meets the Atlantic Ocean, the book divides the coastal stretch into four discrete and easily explored regions. Coastal and inland towns are described, together with their main attractions, offering glimpses into early human history, local culture and traditions, nature and wildlife, and modern-day economic pursuits. The West Coast is a place of varied landscapes and vast contrasts: from moody and at times tempestuous seas and windswept beaches, to verdant vineyards and kaleidoscopic swathes of wildflowers in spring. Wild yet tranquil, playful yet contemplative, dramatic yet understated – its eclectic offering beckons residents and travellers alike.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | The Wonderful West Coast, a column by Leon Nell in The Penguin Post
HISTORY
Steeped in Strength and Innovation
Palaces of Stone: Uncovering Ancient southern African Kingdoms
by Mike Main & Tom Huffman
Across the face of southern Africa are more than 460 remarkable stone palaces – some small, others rambling, but many are astonishing. All are the legacy of kingdoms past. Some, such as Great Zimbabwe, Khami in Botswana and Mapungubwe in South Africa, are famous world heritage sites, but the majority are unknown to the general public, unsung and unappreciated. Palaces of Stone brings to life the history of various early African societies, from AD 900 to approximately 1850. By exploring a selection of known and unknown sites, the authors uncover the emergence of ancient civilisations and reconstruct the meaning of the ruins they left behind. Woven into the narrative are stories of powerful political states; nourishing local economies; long-distance trade; and the destruction wrought by colonialism and modern-day treasure hunters.
History of South Africa
by Thula Simpson
This book explores South Africa’s tumultuous history from the aftermath of the Second Anglo-Boer War to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on never-before-published documentary evidence – including diaries, letters, eyewitness testimony and diplomatic reports – the book follows the South African people through the battles, elections, repression, resistance, strikes, massacres, economic crashes and health crises that have shaped the nation’s character. Tracking South Africa’s path from colony to Union and from apartheid to democracy, History of South Africa documents the influence of key figures including Pixley Seme, Jan Smuts, Lilian Ngoyi, H.F. Verwoerd, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, P.W. Botha and Jacob Zuma. The book also gives detailed accounts of definitive events such as the 1922 Rand Revolt, the Defiance Campaign, Sharpeville, the Soweto uprising and the Marikana massacre.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Read a column from Thula Simpson in The Penguin Post >>
Johannesburg Then and Now
by Marc Latilla
In less than a century, the jumble of shabby tents and lean-tos that constituted Johannesburg’s first settlement has grown into a modern metropolis of towering office buildings, high-rise apartments and sprawling suburbs. Its rapid development has been in no small measure the result of the fabulous wealth that lay in the gold-rich deposits of the now-famous Witwatersrand basin. The story of gold is also the story of Johannesburg, and in a fascinating series of photographic juxtapositions, Johannesburg Then and Now chronicles the city’s expansion from dusty mining camp to economic powerhouse.
Place
by Justin Fox
In this gripping travelogue, Justin Fox goes on a one-of-a-kind journey. Marrying his love for travel and writing, he sets off to explore the places of his favourite books. From the mountainous eastern Karoo of Olive Schreiner to the big-game lowveld of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, from Deneys Reitz’s wide-open Cape interior to the bushveld of Eugène Marais’s Waterberg, Fox reveals the majestic power of place. Through the savannah of Herman Charles Bosman’s Marico, the dusty plains of JM Coetzee’s Moordenaars Karoo, the forests of Dalene Matthee’s Garden Route, the subtropical hamlets of Zakes Mda’s Wild Coast, and finally the sandstone crags of Stephen Watson’s Cederberg, he brings to life the settings we’ve only seen through characters’ eyes. Place is a moving love letter to South Africa, merging literature and landscape, and taking the reader on a breath-taking journey.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Read a column from Justin Fox in The Penguin Post >>
NATURE
Unsurpassed in its diversity & Beauty
Newman’s Birds by Colour
by Kenneth Newman
Newman’s Birds by Colour offers beginner birders a quick and simple way to identify southern Africa’s most common birds using colour as a starting point. Now in its fourth edition, this handy illustrated guide has been updated to include the latest common names, expanded habitat information, and up-to-date distribution maps. An informative introduction provides practical tips for identifying birds, and includes information on bird anatomy and classification, and guidance on where to look for birds and what you need to go birding.
Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna
by Cliff Dorse & Suretha Dorse
South Africa’s Fynbos Biome, which spans the country’s Western and Eastern Cape provinces, is one of the richest floras in the world. In addition to its spectacular botanical diversity, the region is also famous for its remarkable variety of fauna, with some species occurring nowhere else – from the tiny Micro Frog to the brightly coloured Orange-breasted Sunbird and the large, strikingly marked Bontebok. The first of its kind, this concise field guide covers more than 400 species in four animal groups: mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs. This guide encompasses popular tourist destinations such as the Cape Peninsula, the Kogelberg, the Cederberg, the Agulhas Plain, the West Coast and Baviaanskloof. Concise, all-in-one guide to the mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs of the Fynbos Biome.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Read a column from Cliff and Suretha Dorse in The Penguin Post
Decima
by Eben Venter
A mountain of flesh she is, this Decima, as she lies. She summons her strength to rise, all four feet on sand and shale. Puffs twirl and settle as her toes find their place. Three on each foot. Decima stands. In the veld of the Eastern Cape a writer imagines her: Decima – a magnificent black rhinoceros cow. Mother to Tandeka, herself plumped up with calf, Decima and her crash of rhinos await the birth of the new baby. Eben Venter’s book, a creative blend of autofiction, animal fable, mystery and scientific enquiry, is an urgent plea to save one of earth’s megaherbivores. An elegiac work for numerous voices, Decima is a moving and thrilling lament to loss in all its many guises.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Read a Q&A with Eben Venter in The Penguin Post
FOOD
with Influences from All Over the World
Senidlile Kodwa?
by Zanele Van Zyl
Senidlile Kodwa? is the third cookbook from Zanele van Zyl. Based on the isiZulu phrase, which means ‘have you eaten yet?’, a question asked by every mother, aunty or grandmother when you enter their home, Senidlile Kodwa? is an expression of Zanele’s identity, her love language, and the joy she finds in preparing food for other people. Filled with 100 simple yet tasty recipes, the book is a celebration of food, whether you’re cooking for yourself or the people you love. Expect everything from bright and cheery breakfasts; wholesome veggies; meaty mains with heart; a signature Sunday spread; traditional village favourites; simply delicious sides; and, of course, something sweet to round it all off. Cooking beautiful food can be fun and unintimidating!
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Get to know Zanele van Zyl in The Penguin Post >>
Modern Cape Malay Cooking
by Cariema Isaacs
The love language of the Cape Malays is food, and author Cariema Isaacs says tramakasie (thank you) every day that she gets to express herself in this way. Modern Cape Malay Cooking, Cariema’s fourth cookbook, is a celebration of food and feasting, providing a contemporary view of Cape Malay cuisine and simple home cooking. The recipes showcase a blend of flavours that redefine the Cape Malay palate through modern ingredients and global influences. Though traditional Cape Malay cuisine and recipes have stood the test of time, adaptations have given rise to a culinary fusion. But popular dishes from the East and West, such as a comforting pasta or a quick stir-fry, will always have a Cape Malay twist.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Recipes: Modern Cape Malay Cooking by Cariema Isaacs
Beer Country’s Blackouts & Boerewors
by Karl Tessendorf & Greg Gilowey
Load-shedding sucks! You know it. We know it. The whole country knows it. It’s also no secret that it’s here to stay for the foreseeable future. Is it annoying, frustrating and downright infuriating? Yes, no question about it. However, every blackout is a fire begging to be built, a juicy chop ready to be turned and a family braai just waiting to happen. With a little planning, some clever thinking and 40 great recipes – quick and easy, plan ahead and weekend winners – load-shedding can go from the worst part of your day to the best. Put your money where your braaibroodjie goes and join the Beer Country duo as they dive into their best braai recipes for the Eishkom disaster. Welcome to the braaight side of load-shedding life!
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Recipes: Beer Country’s Blackouts & Boerewors by Karl Tessendorf and Greg Gilowey
Dinner at Matloha’s
by Liziwe Matloha
You’ll find recipes for all times of the day and every season. Start with savoury mince, indulge in amagwinya with your morning coffee, choose a salad or soup for lunch, snack on hot-and-crispy chicken wings while watching the game, or savour an oxtail stew on a winter’s night. For bakers, there are biscuits, breads and cakes, while desserts include favourites like cheese cake and pancakes. Fancy an Asian feast? We’ve got you covered. And if you crave a taste of home, there’s isijingi, umnqusho, umleqwa, dikwata or a traditional ‘seven colours’.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Recipes: Dinner at Matloha’s by Liziwe Matloha
PEOPLE
Embracing their Proudly South African Heritage
Two Tons o’ Fun
by Fred Khumalo
A car has collided with a Coca-Cola truck in Alexandra. The overturned trailer is spilling its contents, which residents are carrying off in their plastic ‘Shangaan Gucci’ bags. With two other bystanders, Lerato Morolong, age fourteen, helps the injured truck driver. The woman who drives them to hospital is Professor Ngobese, matriarch of the family at Number 80, the only house in the neighbourhood with a street address, aka Those White People. Here begins Lerato’s relationship with the Ngobeses – Auntie Gugu and her daughter Janine, who becomes Lerato’s bf and one half of the dancing duo, Two Tons o’ Fun (because life’s too short to spend in a tent dress). Rich and humorous, this vibrant coming-of-age story sees a young woman uncover her skill as a writer, explore her sexuality, travel, and finally understand her mother.
The Milk Tart Murders
by Sally Andrew
Who knew a Marilyn Monroe movie could kill you? When Oom Frik of Oom Frik’s Fantastiques dies during a vintage movie screening in Ladismith, Tannie Maria and her policeman boyfriend Henk are on the scene. Ja, the old thrift-shop owner had a heart condition, but was there more to his demise? It’s rumoured that among Frik’s junk are valuable treasures, and the grumpy, paranoid old guy frequently altered his will. When a second body turns up, there’s a clue: a letter addressed to Tannie Maria asking for advice – and a milk tart recipe. Fifty-plus agony aunt Maria and feisty young journalist Jessie conduct their own treasure hunt and murder investigation. The police are looking for the perpetrator too, but the amateur detectives have unique skills, and Tannie Maria’s food is a powerful incentive to get people to talk.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Extract: The Milk Tart Murders by Sally Andrew >>
Legends: People Who Changed South Africa for the Better
by Matthew Blackman & Nick Dall
We have a lot to be positive about in South Africa. With all our problems, it’s easy to feel bleak. But hold those thoughts, because Legends might be just the tonic you need to drive off the gloom. This book tells the stories of a dozen remarkable people who changed Mzansi for the better. Most South Africans are proud of Nelson Mandela – and rightly so. His life was truly astounding, but he’s by no means the only person who should inspire us. There’s King Moshoeshoe, whose humanity and diplomatic strategies put him head and shoulders above his contemporaries, both European and African. John Fairbairn, who brought non-racial democracy to the Cape in 1854. And bestselling international author Olive Schreiner who fought racism, corruption and chauvinism. Engagingly written and meticulously researched, Legends reminds South Africans that we have a helluva lot to be proud of.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Extract: Legends by Matthew Blackman & Nick Dall >>
Blues for the White Man
by Fred de Vries
“For me, Blues for a Hip King is Ibrahim’s ultimate record. I hear black South Africa and black America. Histories that repeat, overlap and complement each other. The piano and the saxophone play meandering melodies, which sometimes sound South African and then American. They don’t care about borders.” It started with a question about the blues: what makes the music of the downtrodden black man so alluring to white middle-class ears? And that’s where it gets interesting. Because blues is more than a musical genre: it’s a cultural phenomenon that spans several centuries on both sides of the Atlantic, from slavery to Black Lives Matter, from Jan van Riebeeck to Fees Must Fall, from Robert Johnson to Abdullah Ibrahim.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY | Digging for the Blues, a column by Fred de Vries in Exclusive Reads
Image: StockSnap/Clem Onojeghuo