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The Interpreters : South Africa's New Nonfiction - Antjie Krog

The Interpreters

South Africa's New Nonfiction

By: Antjie Krog, Sean Christie (Editor), Hedley Twidle (Editor), William Dicey, Rian Malan

Paperback | 1 May 2025

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Across three decades of democracy, South Africa has seen an outpouring of longform, narrative journalism and creative nonfiction - genres in which some of the country's finest writers have tried to make sense of a complex and changing society. This brand new, one-of-a-kind anthology collects some of the best literary nonfiction published since the end of apartheid, carefully selected and introduced by editors Sean Christie and Hedley Twidle.

From the underworld of zama zama goldminers to the tragicomic closure of a Cape Town zoo, from stick fighting to punk rock, game lodges to fruit farms, cricket pitches to mermaids, The Interpreters: South Africa's New Nonfiction assembles a range of true stories that are as compelling as any fiction.

Literary nonfiction in South Africa has often been found at the margins of our media - in zines, journals, now defunct magazines and personal blogs. It is a kind of writing that has, in general, not made much financial sense - more a medium for those obsessed with pursuing a single story over months or years. In The Interpreters, the editors have combed through 30 years of post-apartheid writing to produce a collection that combines preeminent names with lesser known but no less immersive and powerful works of creative journalism - disparate views and voices that, when read together, have created a new topography of South Africa's recent past.

Featuring J. M. Coetzee ⢠Kimon de Greef ⢠William Dicey ⢠Alexandra Dodd ⢠Madeleine Fullard ⢠Mark Gevisser ⢠Anna Hartford ⢠Anton Harber ⢠Michiel Heyns ⢠Dani«l Hugo ⢠Anton Kannemeyer ⢠Bongani Kona ⢠Rustum Kozain ⢠Antjie Krog ⢠Alastair Laird ⢠Adrian Leftwich ⢠Lidudumalingani ⢠Bongani Madondo ⢠Rian Malan ⢠Zanele Mji ⢠Mogorosi Motshumi ⢠Nosisi Mpolweni ⢠Julie Nxadi ⢠Njabulo S Ndebele ⢠Lindokuhle Nkosi ⢠Sean O'Toole ⢠Kopano Ratele ⢠Warren Raysdorf ⢠Srila Roy ⢠Lin Sampson ⢠Kwanele Sosibo ⢠Jonny Steinberg ⢠Niren Tolsi ⢠Matthew Wilhelm-Solomon ⢠Roger Young ⢠Percy Zvomuya

Industry Reviews

"One of the best books out of South Africa this year, if not this decade." Ferial Haffajee, The Daily Maverick

"The Interpreters is outstanding. A singular, genre-riddling literary ride." Mila de Villiers, Sunday Times

"The stories clamouring to be told about our country." Chris Roper, Financial Mail

"I finished this book wanting more." Arja Salafranca, Business Day

"This will be one of the top 5 books brought out in South Africa this year." Paige Nick, Fine Music Radio

"A powerful book to read on long winter nights. An amulet against the fire." Joan Hambidge

"The stories were enlightening. I hope this collection will be the first of many." Lauren O'Connor-May, False Bat Echo

"A necessary reminder of the value of sitting with a story or an obsession." David Mann, Artthrob

"Rush out and get this book." Shaun de Waal, News24

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