"Ross ... writes clearly and vigorously and covers a remarkable range of topics ... the book is attractively
produced and liberally illustrated."
-- The Times Literary Supplement
Submitted by Publisher, March, 2001
Summary
This book provides a succinct overview of the past 1500 years of South African history, up to and including
the government of Nelson Mandela. On the basis of a description of precolonial African societies and of colonial
conquest, it concentrates on the economic and political transformations leading up to the radical changes of the
past decade. Nevertheless, it also devotes much attention to the diversity of South African society and the vibrancy
of its cultural life.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The settlement of the land
3. Colonial conquest
4. Unification
5. Consolidation
6. Apartheid
7. The costs of apartheid
8. 'Let Freedom Reign': the end of apartheid and the transition to democracy, 1980�1994
9. Epilogue: the acid rain of freedom
Suggestions for further reading.
