Cold Stone Jug

In 1926 South Africa's celebrated short story writer, Herman Charles Bosman, shot and killed his step-brother in an argument. He was sentenced to death and this is where his story begins. Cold Stone Jug is an account of his years serving time in South Africa's notorious Pretoria Central Prison, beginning in the 1920's. Despite the hellish conditions, Bosman uses his razor-sharp wit and exemplary skills as a short story writer to describe the most fascinating tales of prisoners and prison life. At times poignant, depressing and hilarious, Cold Stone Jug manages to provide a window into a forgotten world as seen by a writer whose wry sense of humour carries you through the horror of his predicament. In the end, it is Bosman's personal journey that resonates long after the last page.

Herman Charles Bosman s unique account of the term he served as a young man in Pretoria Central Prison. Convicted for the murder of his step-brother, and initially condemned to hang, he had his sentence commuted to be a regular convict through the 1920s and into the 1930s."

The remarkable autobiographical account of just over four year's hard labour in South Africa's Pretoria Central prison during the early twentieth century, written by one of South Africa's greatest storytellers. In 1926 Herman Charles Bosman was condemned to death after a catastrophic incident in which his step¬brother was shot dead. On the judge's recommendation, however, a reprieve was granted and at the age of twenty-one, Bosman went to serve just over four years of a ten-year sentence of imprisonment. Cold Stone Jug is the unique chronicle of Bosman's experiences in Pretoria Central prison. Filled with larger-than-life real characters, violence, passion, and madness, Cold Stone Jug has been described as either his funniest book-or his saddest book. Now with a glossary to explain Afrikaans words, phrases, and sayings to the reader.

Convicted on charges of protest sabotage in 1964, Hugh Lewin spent seven years in prison in South Africa, secretly recording his experiences and those of his fellow inmates on the pages of his Bible. On his release, these writings were published in London while the book remained banned in South Africa for many years. Hailed as a classic of South African prison writing, Bandiet out of Jail contains the full text of the original, as well as poems and descriptions of Lewin’s experiences with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that offer unique insights into changes in the political and emotional landscape since his return to South Africa in 1992. The illustrations comprise original prison drawings by Harold Strachan, twice a fellow bandiet with Lewin in Pretoria. Bandiet out of Jail was awarded the Olive Schreiner Prize in 2003.

This is a first-hand account of theatre in apartheid society. Exploring the forces which led to the foundation and development of "New South African Theatre", the financial backing provided by the South African business world, the black majority's point of view and the influence of cultural boycotts and problems of tours abroad, it provides specialist information on the Market Theatre. It also considers black consciousness and trade union and state-funded theatre in South Africa.

South African quarterly.