History of South Africa

About the book

Winner of the 2022 Humanities and Social Sciences Award for Best Non-Fiction Monograph

South Africa was born in war, its growth has been marked by crises and ruptures, and it once again stands on a precipice.

History of South Africa explores the country’s tumultuous journey 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, insurrections, massacres, economic crashes and health crises that have shaped the nation’s character.

Tracking South Africa’s path from colony to Union...