A History of South Africa

The book is well written but incredibly dense with far too much detail dedicated to the early history of the country. I ended up glossing over the first two hundred pages. I’m very familiar with South African history but this was too much to wade through. The second half is better but still a very difficult read.

Tremendous book on the history of South Africa, going back to colonial days. It's entertaining and very informative. I used this as one of the books that informed my master's in history culminating paper.

Good

if you want to know more about the ANC, look elsewhere. good background on conflicts between different European groups and how it led to Apartheid.

I found this book incredibly dry. I generally enjoy history books - and as a new resident of South Africa, reading on SA history is important to me. I can't read more than 10 pages of this book at a time. I've learned a lot - that's good. But its killing me its so boring. Nothing like reading, say, David McCullough.

Steer clear of this book. I've read quite a few histories on the region and this reads like the most amateurish bit of "scholarship" I've ever seen. He consistently downplays ANC terrorist attacks and oversells British attempts at ameliorating racial tensions in the region. I understand his soft spot for his own but it's a frustrating bias. But probably the most obnoxious aspects of his writing is Welsh's constant sophomoric barbs such as claiming the Reagan administration backed the war in Angola as compensation for our "military" defeat by a Third World army. Never mind Cuban empire building! Anyone with a cursory knowledge of the war knows that, unlike France, the US left Vietnam despite consistently trouncing the communists. We had no Dien Bien Phu. It's just trash and I suggest you not waste your money.

I find even though I’m little over a third of the way through the book, I can’t get over how many misconceptions it’s has dispelled. I thought I had a reasonable knowledge of the countries past from high school and tours of the battlefields but I hadn’t even begun to scratch the surface.Written by a non-native of the country, the author has accessed works from a far wider selection of material then local sources alone would have permitted. And in my option presents a very objective view of the countries past.It’s refreshing and interesting.

Love history but not an easy read

Well written by a historian

A very good book, well-written, and containing a lot of really interesting information about South Africa, including pre-colonial times. Lovely to read, fascinating to learn from.

Book arrived as described, on time, and in condition as described