Books and writers
Information about the latest books and the people behind them
Press release: Shortlists – UJ Prizes for Creative Writing in isiZulu and Sesotho sa Leboa, and for Literary Translation
2021-09-09The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is pleased to announce the shortlists for the following three newly instated prizes: UJ Prize for Creative Writing in isiZulu, UJ Prize for Creative Writing in Sesotho sa Leboa, and the UJ Prize for Literary Translation.
First sip: The ANC’s last decade by Ralph Mathekga
2021-09-08"Since the first democratic elections in 1994, no party has held on to the third position in consecutive elections. Smaller political parties have always alternated in this position. Because it has claimed this spot, the only way up for the EFF must be to depose the DA and become the official opposition."
White trash by Terry Angelos: book launch
2021-09-08Tracy Going will be in conversation with Terry Angelos on Monday 20 September 2021 at 18:00.
The whistle blowers by Mandy Wiener: reader impression
2021-09-08"If you wish to destroy the life you know, expose some corrupt activities."
Press release: Longlist for the Kendeka Prize for African Literature 2021
2021-09-03The longlist for the 2021 Kendeka Prize for African Literature has been announced on Wednesday, the 1st of September 2021.
African library: Silence is my mother tongue by Sulaiman Addonia
2021-08-30"Compelling and written with tenderness and fury, this beautiful novel will resonate in readers’ minds with its clarity of vision, empathy and depth of insight. It is likely to become a classic for its undeniable literary stature."
Into dark water by Jeremy Vearey: a book review
2021-08-26"This is a fascinating book. But ultimately it is the victim of its own ego. It attempts too much and provides only a superficial gloss of the events that continue to intrigue and unsettle us as a nation."
Full particulars podcast: Nostalgia for the future – writing crime in a time of state capture
2021-08-25In this episode of his monthly podcast David Attwell talks to Margie Orford about crime writing and her Clare Hart series of crime novels, which ended with the publication of Water Music in 2013.
Fresh off the press: A Pretoria boy by Peter Hain
2021-08-24A highly readable, dramatic story of a colourful South African journey in politics lasting over 50 years, from anti-apartheid protester to Right Honourable Lord, from Pretoria childhood to senior British Cabinet Minister.
Hitler’s spies: Secret agents and the intelligence war in South Africa by Evert Kleynhans – reader impression
2021-08-23"Kleynhans researched Hitler’s spies for his PhD thesis, and, as might be expected, he has included a superb bibliography, which will keep serious students of the Second World War history of South Africa reading for years to come."
Gripscapes: Newly selected poems by Norman Morrissey – a book review
2021-08-19"Much like a knight errant, the poet is in search of poetry. His life is a quest of refining the technique."
Noise: A flaw in human judgement by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony and Cass R Sunstein – a book review
2021-08-11"Noise draws together statistical research to show how skewed judgement can be in fields from criminal justice to medicine, public health to economics, human resources to child protection – and just how rampant the problem is."
COVID diaries: Women’s experience of the pandemic – an interview with Amanda Gouws and Olivia Ezeobi
2021-08-06"Because everyone had to work from home, men expected to be able to close the door and get online and work without interruptions, while the mothers had to face the expanding care work and interruptions."
A coat of many colours by Fred Khumalo: an inter-review
2021-08-05Fred Khumalo: "The riskier the choice I make, the more rewarding it is for me as a writer."
Fresh off the press: Thinking the future by Clem Sunter and Mitch Ilbury
2021-08-04Every decision we make is a decision about the future. We constantly make choices that affect the next week, year or decade, but get blinded by what we want or expect the future to be.
The promise by Damon Galgut: a book review
2021-08-02"The promise is a major achievement, fully deserving its place on the Man Booker Prize longlist."
2021 Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature shortlist: an interview with Catherine Jarvis
2021-08-02"I write young adult fiction because firstly, I've always been a fan of YA books and secondly, I am a high school teacher so I spend my days with teenagers."
Stellenbosch bid for Unesco City of Literature status
2021-07-29"I have dreamt of this day for over a decade. Despite the numerous obstacles we faced putting this bid together, the planets seem to have aligned and in little over three months time we will know whether our bid to Unesco has been successful."
Book launch: Mother Earth, Mother Africa & mission
2021-07-23Join us as we celebrate the launch of Mother Earth, Mother Africa & missions on 26 July. The editors, Seblewengel Daniel, Mmapula Diana Kebaneilwe and Angeline Savala, will speak to Christina Landman, Beverley Haddad, Musa Wenkosi Dube and Esther Mombo about this important publication.
Press release: Ground-breaking think-tank at Karoo Writers Festival 2021
2021-07-22Twenty educators will participate and enact an innovative fusion of Creative Arts and Life Skills during a two-day think-tank in Cradock at the end of July – a bold moment in local education history. This event will provide a curtain-raiser to the 2021 Karoo Writers Festival, taking place from 28 to 31 July 2021.
