Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
All characters reduced
Foreign Native - An African Journey - cover

Foreign Native - An African Journey

RW Johnson

Publisher: Jonathan Ball

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Summary

In Foreign Native, RW Johnson looks back with affection and humour on his life in Africa. From schooldays in Durban – fresh off the plane from Merseyside – to later years as an academic, director of the Helen Suzman Foundation and formidable political commentator, he has produced an entertaining and occasionally eye-popping memoir brimming with history, anecdote and insight.
Johnson charts his evolution from enthusiastic, left-leaning Africanist to political realist, relating episodes that influenced his intellectual worldview, including time spent among the exiled liberation movements in London during the 1960s, a sojourn in newly independent Guinea and more recent forays into Zimbabwe. There are wonderful stories, some hilarious, others filled with pathos, about the multitude of characters – Harold Strachan, Tom Sharpe, Ronnie Kasrils, Helen Suzman, Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, among many others – that he met along the way.
Perceptive, critical and full of verve, Foreign Native is leavened with a deep humanity that makes it a pleasure to read.
Available since: 07/23/2020.
Print length: 292 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • With Love from Karen - cover

    With Love from Karen

    Marie Killilea

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    The Killilea family returns in the heartwarming sequel to national bestseller Karen.With Love from Karen picks up five years after the conclusion of Karen, the miraculous and true story of a girl with cerebral palsy who triumphed against all odds. It follows the Killileas through Karen’s teen years and into adulthood. Karen and her family continue to face seemingly insurmountable obstacles: They must fight for Karen’s right to attend public school, support Karen in her dream to raise and exhibit champion show dogs, and encourage her in her decision to use a wheelchair or walk on her own. Once again, the Killilea family proves that the power of faith, love, and courage in the face of adversity can make miracles happen.  
    Show book
  • No Angel - My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels - cover

    No Angel - My Harrowing...

    Jay Dobyns, Nils Johnson-Shelton

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Getting shot in the chest as a rookie ATF agent, bartering for machine guns, throttling down the highway at 100 miles per hour, and responding to a full-scale, bloody riot between the Hells Angels and their rivals, the Mongols—these are just a few of the high-adrenaline experiences Jay Dobyns recounts in this action-packed, hard to imagine, but true story of how he infiltrated the legendary Hells Angels.Dobyns leaves no stone of his harrowing journey unturned. At runs and clubhouses, between rides and riots, Dobyns befriends bad-ass bikers, meth-fueled "old ladies," gun fetishists, psycho-killer ex-cons, and even some of the "Filthy Few"—the elite of the Hells Angels who've committed extreme violence on behalf of their club. Eventually, at parties staged behind heavily armed security, he meets legendary club members such as Chuck Zito, Johnny Angel, and the godfather of all bikers, Ralph "Sonny" Barger. To blend in with them, he gets full-arm ink; to win their respect, he vows to prove himself a stone-cold killer.Hardest of all is leading a double life, which has him torn between his devotion to his wife and children and his pledge to become the first federal agent ever to be "fully patched" into the Angels' near-impregnable ranks. His act is so convincing that he comes within a hairsbreadth of losing himself. Eventually, he realizes that just as he's been infiltrating the Hells Angels, they've been infiltrating him. And just as they're not all bad, he's not all good.Reminiscent of Donnie Brasco's uncovering of the true Mafia, this is an eye-opening portrait of the world of bikers—the most in-depth since Hunter Thompson's seminal work—one that fully describes the seductive lure criminal camaraderie has for men who would otherwise be powerless outsiders. Here is all the nihilism, hate, and intimidation, but also the freedom—and, yes, brotherhood—of the only truly American form of organized crime.
    Show book
  • America's First Female Serial Killer - Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster - cover

    America's First Female Serial...

    Mary Kay McBrayer

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    This book is for listeners of true crime podcasts and readers of both fiction and true-crime nonfiction. It is for watchers of television shows like Deadly Women and Mindhunter who are fascinated by how killers are made. It’s for self-conscious feminists, Americans trying to bootstrap themselves into success, and anyone who loves a vigilante beatdown, especially one gone off the rails.
    
    It’s the true story of first-generation Irish-American nurse Jane Toppan, born as Honora Kelley. Because even though all the facts are intact, books about her life and her crimes are all facts and no story. Jane Toppan was absolutely a monster, but she did not start out that way.
    
    When Jane was a young child, her father abandoned her and her sister to the Boston Female Asylum. From there, Jane was indentured to a wealthy family who changed her name, never adopted her, wrote her out of the will, and essentially taught her to hate herself. Jilted at the altar, Jane became a nurse and took control of her life—and the lives of her victims.
    Show book
  • Romeo and Juliet | Shakespeare for kids - Shakespeare in a language kids will understand and love - cover

    Romeo and Juliet | Shakespeare...

    Jeanette Vigon

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Embark on an unforgettable journey through the timeless streets of Verona in "Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare for Kids." Crafted with the young and the young at heart in mind, Jeanette Vigon offers a mesmerizing retelling of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, making it accessible and engaging for a new generation of readers.This adaptation breathes new life into the story of Romeo and Juliet, the young lovers ensnared by fate and caught in the web of family feuds. Through Vigon’s adept storytelling, this tale unfolds with a freshness that captivates the imagination, ensuring that the essence of Shakespeare’s drama is preserved while being made relatable to children.With a focus on the themes of love, conflict, and the weight of choices, Vigon’s narrative is imbued with warmth, humor, and wisdom. The prose is fluid, and the illustrations vibrant, together painting a world where love dares to cross the boundaries of ancient grudges. This book is not only a window into the innocence and intensity of first love but also a gentle guide through the emotional and moral complexities that accompany it."Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare for Kids" serves as a perfect introduction to classic literature for young readers. It encapsulates the spirit of devotion, bravery, and the importance of communication, echoing messages that remain as relevant today as in Shakespeare’s time. Ideal for bedtime stories or classroom discussions, this book promises to enchant and educate, sparking a love for storytelling and literature that will last a lifetime.Join Romeo and Juliet on their adventure of love, laughter, and learning. This book is a treasure trove of storytelling magic, waiting to inspire your little ones with the timeless beauty of Shakespeare’s work. Let their imagination soar and their hearts be touched by this captivating retelling. Add it to your collection today and watch the magic of Verona come alive through the eyes of a child.
    Show book
  • Eric Johnson - cover

    Eric Johnson

    Steve Black

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Steve Black interviewed guitarist Eric Johnson in the spring of 2017.
    Show book
  • Mark Ruffalo: Book Of Quotes (100+ Selected Quotes) - cover

    Mark Ruffalo: Book Of Quotes...

    Quotes Station

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    MARK RUFFALO: BOOK OF QUOTES 
    - 
    ABOUT MARK RUFFALO 
    Mark Alan Ruffalo (/ˈrʌfəloʊ/; born November 22, 1967) is an American actor and producer. He began acting in the early 1990s and first gained recognition for his work in Kenneth Lonergan's play This Is Our Youth (1998) and drama film You Can Count On Me (2000). He went on to star in the romantic comedies 13 Going on 30 (2004) and Just like Heaven (2005) and the thrillers In the Cut (2003), Zodiac (2007) and Shutter Island (2010); and received a Tony Award nomination for his supporting role in the Broadway revival of Awake and Sing! in 2006. Ruffalo gained international recognition for playing Bruce Banner / Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero films The Avengers (2012), a cameo in Iron Man 3 (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), a cameo in Captain Marvel (2019), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), as well as the upcoming Disney+ series She-Hulk (2022). Also in 2019, Ruffalo starred in and co-produced Dark Waters. 
    - 
     QUOTES SAMPLES 
    “People say funny things all the time during really serious moments in life.” 
    — 
    “What makes Hulk afraid? It's himself. It's a version of himself that's weak. It's a version of himself that's vulnerable. It's a child inside of him.” 
    — 
    “The relationships that I see work - As long as they're telling the truth, and saying the things that you don't ever want to have to say to another human being.” 
    — 
    “The problem to me is violence. It's not cool to kill somebody or hurt people.” 
    — 
    “It's easy to do nothing, but your heart breaks a little more every time you do.” 
    — 
    “Love conquers all - love is the grace that transcends any kind of injustice in the end.” 
    — 
    “I still feel like I'm trying to make it. It's hard to shed the struggling actor thing.”
    Show book