The South African Diaries

Apartheid and its resistance come to life in this memoir making it a vital historical document of its time and for our own. In 1969, while a student in South Africa, John Schlapobersky was arrested for opposing apartheid and tortured, detained and eventually deported. Interrogated through sleep deprivation, he later wrote secretly in solitary confinement about the struggle for survival. Those writings inform this exquisitely written book in which the author reflects on the singing of the condemned prisoners, the poetry, songs and texts that saw him through his ordeal, and its impact. This sense of hope through which he transformed his life guides his continuing work as a psychotherapist and his focus on the rehabilitation of others. “[T]hetale of an ordinary young man swept one day from his life into hell, testimony to the wickedness a political system let loose in its agents and, above all, an intimate account of how a man became a healer.”—Jonny Steinberg, Oxford University From the introduction: I was supposed to be a man by the time I turned 21, by anyone’s reckoning. By the apartheid regime’s reckoning, I was also old enough to be tortured. Looking back, I can recognize the boy I was. The eldest of my grandchildren is now approaching this age, and I would never want to see her or the others – or indeed anyone else – having to face any such ordeal. At the time my home was in Johannesburg, only some thirty miles from Pretoria, where I was thrown into a world that few would believe existed, populated by creatures from the darkest places, creatures of the night, some in uniform. I was there for fifty-five days, and never went home again.

A fascinating portrait of the new South Africa by the acclaimed author of Brazil: Life, Blood, Soul. From the stillness of the Karoo savanna to the warmth of the Indian Ocean, and from the exclusive white neighbourhoods of Pretoria to the destitution of the black townships in Cape Town, John Malathronas chronicles a journey in one of the most beautiful countries on Earth. Whether dancing the night away in a club, mountain-biking on the backpacker's bus or watching animals on a safari, John Malathronas is full of sharp observations, be they social, historical, political or botanical. The author draws fascinating portraits of the many Afrikaner, Xhosa, Zulu, Indian and Swazi characters he encounters, all of whom make up the tapestry of the new South Africa.

This diary is written from notes made daily by the author when he was signal sergeant to Lieutenant-Colonel P.L.Clowes, who commanded the regiment during the war until October 1901, and afterwards from notes made when he was a squadron sergeant-major and Orderly-Room Sergeant (ORS). It also incorporates the diary of C Squadron, when detached from the regiment, written by its OC, Major A.Henderson, and that of A Squadron during the time it was with Colonel Pulteney's Column, written by Major F.W.Mussenden, squadron OC. It begins with a short, background history of the regiment from its formation in 1693 to 1903 when it was in Aldershot. On 26th December 1899 the regiment was at the Curragh when mobilization orders were received and on 13th February 1900 the regiment embarked at Queenstown (Cobh) for S Africa, part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade with 7th Dragoon Guards and 17th Lancers. Embarkation strength was 19 officers, 586 WOs, NCOs and men and 487 horses (someone was going to have to walk!). The complete nominal roll of those embarking is given, listed by squadrons. The diary begins on 13th Feb followed by daily entries describing the voyage during which eleven horses and one crew member died; it ended at Cape Town on 10th March. It is on this daily entry basis that the progress of the regiment is described, in action, on the move, in camp with all the problems of campaigning on the veldt - sickness, food and water shortage, supplies and other details. Casualties are noted by name and rank and number as they occurred, each draft arriving is listed by number, rank and name and this aspect is a godsend to medallists and genealogists. We meet officers who will have a part to play in the next war - French, Plumer, Pulteney, Hamilton and others. The memorial in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, lists three officers and 51 other ranks dead; the description of the unveiling ceremony as published in the Dublin Mail andEvening Mail is reproduced at the end of the book.

When I am travelling through this wonderful world I always allow myself about 20 minutes at the end of every day to write up interesting pieces of information I have observed or has happened to me. I always take some stills as well as video, so the stills are included each day to make a pictorial memory when editing my documentaries on my return home. As well as a spare camera (in case) I always take a tiny Mac laptop with me and quickly design a page completely each day. When I return home I buy photo paper and print out the diary so I have a somewhat rough and ready recall of most of my trips. I always think I will get to them and edit, extend and polish up my words, but I never do, I am always onto the next project. I am totally addicted to travel and meet fascinating people every time. I hope you enjoy my jottings. Dorothy Hartnett

Bill Bryson goes to Kenya at the invitation of CARE International, the charity dedicated to working with local communities to eradicate poverty around the world. Kenya, generally regarded as the cradle of humankind, is a land of stunning landscapes, famous game reserves, and a vibrant culture, but it also has many serious problems, including refugees, AIDS, drought and grinding poverty. It also provides plenty to worry a nervous traveller like Bill Bryson: hair-raising rides in light aircraft, tropical diseases, snakes, insects and large predators. Bryson casts his inimitable eye on a continent new to him, and the resultant diary, though short in length, contains all his trademark laugh-out-loud wit, wry observation and curious insight. All the author’s royalties from this book, as well as all profits, will go to CARE International.