Lansdowne dearest

My family’s story of forced removals

Bronwyn Davids

ISBN:

9780795709807

Epub ISBN:

9780795709814

Publisher:

Kwela

Date Released:

June 2020

Price (incl. VAT):

R 360.00

Format:

Soft cover, 208pp


About this book:

In the 1920s, Bronwyn Davids’ great-grandpa Joe McBain built their family home in Lansdowne. In this memoir, Davids vibrantly recreates life lived in this house for generations: There’s doekpoeding  for Christmas; helpful neighbours dropping by for advice and chommies playing kennetjie. 

But this is also an account of a gut-wrenching loss. Set against the background of apartheid forced removals, this is a charming and authentically South African family story that will stay with you.

 

 

 

Read extract

Readers say

‘A powerful story written with clarity, composure and compassion. . . Davids expresses herself with such fl uency and insight that the aromas and colours, the pains and the pleasures, the aspirations and the suppressions of Lansdowne Dearest feel near and real. This book is a must-read.’

– Jonathan Jansen


‘An affectionate, often pained family record and a vivid tile in the mosaic of South African stories.’

– Michele Magwood


RELATED BOOKS

The Messiah's Dream Machine

Jennifer Friedman

Derick Hougaard

Brenden Nel

Robert McBride: The Struggle Continues

Bryan Rostron

Takka Takka Bom Bom

Al Venter

Anton Rupert

Ebbe Dommisse

Christo Wiese

TJ Strydom

Zephany (A)

Joanne Jowell

Whitey: The Rise and Rule of the Shoprite King

Niel Joubert

Anton Rupert

Ebbe Dommisse

Cult Sister

Lesley Smailes

How I Took Back My Power

Nompumelelo Runji

Becoming a Doctor

Hloni Bookholane

Love and Above

Sarah Bullen

But He Speaks So Well

Ivan Johnson

Hermann Giliomee: Historikus -- 'n Outobiografie

Hermann Giliomee

Faith and Courage

Thabo Makgoba

Kyk na my

Nataniël

Clare: The killing of a gentle activist

Christopher Clark

Statues and Storms

Max Price

Heart of a Strong Woman

Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema, Fred Khumalo

You Have to be Gay to Know God

Siya Khumalo

Witnessing

Pie-Pacifique Kabalira-Uwase

The Corporate Revolutionary

David Williams

Putco Mafani: The Price and Prize of Greatness

Putco Mafani

Jeremy vannie Elsies

Jeremy Vearey

A Childhood Made Up: Living with my mother's madness

Brent Meersman

Whitey: Sakereus van Shoprite

Niel Joubert

Zephany (E)

Joanne Jowell

Kwanele, Enough!

Andy Kawa

Out of Quatro

Luthando Dyasop

I am Ella

Joanne Jowell

Hermann Giliomee: Historian -- An Autobiography

Hermann Giliomee

Betting on a Darkie

Mteto Nyati

Vusi

Vusi Thembekwayo

Comrade Editor

Gwen Lister

Look At Me

Nataniël

Now You Know How Mapetla Died

Zikhona Valela

I Beg to Differ

Peter Storey

Die kind se naam is Anneke

Juliana Coetzer

Andile Gaelesiwe: Remembering

Andile Gaelesiwe

Ghetto Ninja

Nikolaos Kirkinis, Junior Khanye

Lucas Mangope

Oupa Segalwe

The Girl Who Survived Her Mother

Moshitadi Lehlomela

Into Dark Water: A Police Memoir

Jeremy Vearey

Life Lessons

Alan Knott-Craig

The Legend of Zola Mahobe and the Mamelodi Sundowns Story

Don Lepati, Nikolaos Kirkinis

In my vel

Azille Coetzee

Biko: Anniversary Edition

Xolela Mangcu

Christo Wiese

TJ Strydom

If This Be Treason

Helen Joseph