Ndlovu - The White Elephant


Book Description

Ndlovu – The White Elephant is a pacy story set in Zimbabwe during the turbulent years that followed Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence. The story highlights the dangers of police work in the explosive climate of a troubled country during years of the terror war and is woven around human suffering, painful endurance, and horrors that confronted the peoples both black and white. The narrative is loosely based upon the author’s own experiences in the police force of what was then Rhodesia. Thus the action of his story is set against an authentic background which the author experienced and the impeccable writing style gives a palpable vividness to the events. A retired ex-police constable, commits murder, he flees the country but has now returned as a leader of a 'terrorist gang', he is on a diabolical mission, he is wily and ruthless but he has one fear–a reoccurring dream in which he is crushed and gored by an elephant. Tony is a police officer determined to track down a cunning and callous murderer … will he succeed and live up to his name … NDLOVU–The White Elephant? The author has succeeded in producing a narrative with great feeling, what sets this work apart from any other similar books is the remarkable attention to detail. Not only is there the skill with words that paint a picture, but there is also an incisive insight into the characters–brought to life with vivid description and credible dialogue. From the way the author creates scenes and characters, captures the atmosphere of the moments and the emotions of the protagonists –there can be no doubt of the author’s real involvement in the events recorded. Book reviews online: PublishedBestsellers website.




Treachery and Triumph - An Anthology of World War II Stories


Book Description

WAR? DEATH AND DESTRUCTION? VIOLENCE, HATRED, INEXPRESSIBLE GRIEF? PEOPLES PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER, TO THE DEATH? WHY ON EARTH SHOULD I WANT TO READ ABOUT IT? THERE’S ENOUGH IN THE MEDIA EVERY DAY, SURELY? YES: BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. The stories in this Anthology aim to give a vivid insight, through a fascinating mixture of history, reminiscence and fiction, into life during WWII: for those at the front, those left behind, the young at school, the old in the twilight of their years, parents, lovers, spouses, families, colleagues; Britons, Germans, Irish, Kenyans, French, eastern Europeans and Americans (plus the odd ‘undesirable alien’!). These pages see householders struggling to maintain a semblance of normality; young men reluctant to volunteer; soldiers determined to win; acts of generosity, acts of cowardice. In these pages, there is violence – impossible to avoid in an Anthology dedicated to the memory of war – but there is also humour and romance, suspense and emotion, heroism and daring. Even the paranormal puts in an appearance (as one might say). The action is set variously in France, Britain, Eire, Kenya, Russia, Poland ... You are guaranteed hours of stimulation, enjoyment and fruitful relaxation with a book devoted to one of the defining events of our times. STARE INTO THE PAST WITH THE EYES OF THOSE GRIPPED BY ITS DRAMA. All the stories have been especially written for this Anthology by writers experienced in their field. Pneuma Springs is proud to present it to commemorate seventy years after the end of hostilities. Contributors: Karl Brockmann, Annie Coyle Martin, Julius Falconer, Peter Good, Neal James Andrew Malloy, Steve Morris, Neil Morton, Ron Ooms, Chris Pownall, Derek Rosser, Avril Saunders, Derek Smith, Louise Wilkinson Book reviews online: PublishedBestsellers website.




The History of Man


Book Description

Emil Coetzee, a civil servant in his fifties, is washing blood off his hands when the ceasefire is announced. Like everyone else, he feels unmoored by the end of the conflict. War had given him his sense of purpose, his identity. But why has Emil’s life turned out so different from his parents’, who spent cheery Friday evenings flapping and flailing the Charleston or dancing the foxtrot? What happened to the Emil who used to wade through the singing elephant grass of the savannah, losing himself in it? Prize-winning novelist Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu traces Emil’s life from boyhood to manhood – from his days at a privileged boarding school with the motto ‘It is here that boys become the men of history’, to his falling in love with the ever-elusive Marion, whose free-spirited nature has dire consequences for his heart – all the while showing how Emil becomes a man apart. Set in a southern African country that is never named, this powerful tale of human fallibility – told with empathy, generosity and a light touch – is an excursion into the interiority of the coloniser.




The Theory of Flight


Book Description

"On the third of September, not so long ago, something truly wondrous happened on the Beauford Farm and Estate. At the moment of her death, Imogen Zula Nyoni - Genie - was seen to fly away on a giant pair of silver wings ..."




Zambezia


Book Description




Society, State, and Identity in African History


Book Description

The Fourth Congress of the Association of African historians was held in Addis Ababa in May 2007. These 21 papers are a key selection of the papers presented there, with an introduction by the distinguished historian Bahru Zewde. Given the contemporary salience and the historical depth of the issue of identity, the congress was devoted to that global phenomenon within Africa. The papers explore and analyse the issue of identity in its diverse temporal settings, from its pre-colonial roots to its cotemporary manifestations. The papers are divided into six parts: Pre-Colonial Identities; Colonialism and Identity; Conceptions of the Nation-State and Identity; Identity-Based Conflicts; Migration and Acculturation; and Memory, History and Identity. The authors are scholars from Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Bahru Zewde is Emeritus Professor of History at Addis Ababa University, Executive Director of the Forum for Social Studies, and Vice-President of the Association of African Historians. He was formerly Chairperson of the Department of History and Director of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University. Amongst his publication is A History of Modern Ethiopia 1855-1991.




The Story of an African Game


Book Description

THE STORY OF AN AFRICAN GAME is a ground-breaking book, the first to cover in detail the history and experiences of black African cricketers in South Africa. It is long overdue, coming 195 years after the first recorded game of cricket in this country was played at the Green Point Common, Cape Town, in 1808. This is a book that will forever change the way we look at South Africa's cricket history and help us understand where the game is heading in the future.




Rethinking and Unthinking Development


Book Description

Development has remained elusive in Africa. Through theoretical contributions and case studies focusing on Southern Africa’s former white settler states, South Africa and Zimbabwe, this volume responds to the current need to rethink (and unthink) development in the region. The authors explore how Africa can adapt Western development models suited to its political, economic, social and cultural circumstances, while rejecting development practices and discourses based on exploitative capitalist and colonial tendencies. Beyond the legacies of colonialism, the volume also explores other factors impacting development, including regional politics, corruption, poor policies on empowerment and indigenization, and socio-economic and cultural barriers.




Silent Footsteps


Book Description

When an elephant saved Sally Henderson's life in Botswana, it was to change her irrevocably. A passion to conserve this majestic species was ignited, and in 1990 she left Australia to join an elephant research project in the wilds of Zimbabwe.What follows is a remarkable journey into the world of Africa's elephants, and a deeply personal memoir of one woman's awakening and the choices she makes to follow her calling.Sally paints a rare and unforgettable portrait of a herd and its matriarchs, and the perils they face in an unforgiving landscape further torn apart by civil strife. But it is the daily pleasures of being in their mighty presence that gives her story its countless wonders.Beautifully written, Silent Footsteps is a love letter to the spirit of Africa and a jubilant portrayal of the lives of elephants.




Swaziland


Book Description

Swaziland is Africa's second smallest country and its last remaining absolute monarchy. Dwarfed by neighbouring South Africa, this tiny, landlocked nation punches well above its weight in terms of both nature and culture. Author Mike Unwin explores the excellent wildlife reserves and wild hiking trails offering waterfalls, rock art and prolific flora and birdlife, and introduces travellers to the country's rich and varied landscapes. His personal insights, together with colourful anecdotes provide entertaining insights, give an insider's perspective. He divides Swaziland into four distinct regions, with detailed maps and itineraries for timescales from one weekend to one month. It includes a practical guide to neighbouring attractions easily accessed from Swaziland, including Maputo (Mozambique) and the Kruger Park (South Africa), both less than one hour's drive away. The natural history section offers far greater detail and more accurate information than found elsewhere, drawing on the author's extensive insider knowledge and experience.