‘Johannesburg, the first and last city of our century’: Read an exclusive excerpt from Imraan Coovadia’s new novel, A Spy in Time
Many case officers liked to take a tablet to turn white, believing that it made the job easier. I think…
Author: The JRB
‘I had the nerve to like my hair just the way it was’—Listen to Zinzi Clemmons read from her debut novel What We Lose
Exclusive to The JRB, listen to a recording of Zinzi Clemmons reading from her debut novel, What We Lose. What…
‘The glutton ate the snail and it made his cheeks explode’: Read an excerpt from Baho! by Burundian author Roland Rugero
The JRB is proud to present an excerpt from Roland Rugero’s novel Baho!—the first Burundian novel to be translated from French…
[Sponsored] Mandy Wiener discusses her new book, Ministry of Crime: An Underworld Explored
Mandy Wiener chatted to The Reading List about her explosive new book, Ministry of Crime: An Underworld Explored. As a…
[Sponsored] Win a copy of John Hunt’s new novel The Boy Who Could Keep a Swan in his Head
The Reading List is giving away two copies of The Boy Who Could Keep a Swan in his Head, the…
[Sponsored] ‘I was born as apartheid was dying’ – Read an excerpt from What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons
Read an excerpt from Zinzi Clemmons’s debut novel What We Lose, ahead of her tour of Johannesburg and Cape Town in May….
[Sponsored] Profiles of over 600 apartheid activists collected in From Protest to Challenge Vol. 4 Political Profiles, 1882–1990
From Protest to Challenge Vol. 4: Political Profiles, 1882–1990, by Thomas G Karis and Gwendolen Carter, revised and updated by Gail…
View from the privileged heights of the JIAS Castle: Zukiswa Wanner and Niq Mhlongo reflect on their writing fellowship
The JRB City Editor Niq Mhlongo and Zukiswa Wanner have both just published new books—Soweto, Under the Apricot Tree and…
New short fiction: ‘A Woman is her Hands’ by Wame Molefhe, from The Gods Who Send Us Gifts: An Anthology of African Short Stories
Exclusive to The JRB, read Wame Molefhe’s short story ‘A Woman is her Hands’, excerpted from The Gods Who Send…
Honouring literary stalwarts in their lifetime: Gcina Mhlophe and Sindiwe Magona celebrated for their contribution to children’s literature (including exclusive John Kani video)
Authors are sometimes only properly appreciated after they are gone, but Gcina Mhlophe and Sindiwe Magona are two writers who…
[Sponsored] Read an excerpt from Colson Whitehead’s remarkable book, The Colossus of New York
Read an excerpt from The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead, out now from Jonathan Ball Publishers. Whitehead won the Pulitzer…
‘The argument between Beauty and, perhaps, War’: William Kentridge and Denis Hirson in conversation in Johannesburg
Artist William Kentridge and author Denis Hirson appeared in a public conversation at the Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, in February, to…
[Sponsored] John Hunt’s new novel The Boy Who Could Keep a Swan in his Head out in April
“When life turns as black as the Earl of Hell’s waistcoat, you don’t want a man who’s all bum and…
[Sponsored] Award-winning journalist Mandy Wiener has a new book coming in May
Mandy Wiener’s new book Ministry of Crime: An Underworld Explored will be published by Pan Macmillan in May. The book explores the…
[Sponsored] Two new books, from Tumelo Buthelezi and Ijangolet S Ogwang, out soon from BlackBird Books
BlackBird Books has announced two new publications. The Last Sentence, the debut novel by Tumelo Buthelezi, and An Image in…
[Audio] It’s a writer’s life: That hilarious time Zukiswa Wanner encountered her own book in a Joburg taxi
Zukiswa Wanner launched her latest book, Hardly Working: A Travel Memoir of Sorts, in Johannesburg at African Flavour Books recently, in…
Letter: Christine Chiosi on the ‘discomfort’ and ‘estrangement’ of Wamuwi Mbao’s report from an exhibition of JM Coetzee’s boyhood photographs
This is an edited version of a letter The JRB received, from Christine Chiosi, in response to the essay by…
‘I am me; I am black; I must be proud of my blackness.’—Read an excerpt from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s memoir, 491 Days: Prisoner Number 1323/69
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has died in Johannesburg at the age of eighty-one. Read an excerpt from her prison journal, published in 2013,…
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, 1936–2018, RIP
Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela-Mandela, the iconic, controversial South African activist known as ‘the Mother of the Nation’ and, more simply, as…
[Sponsored] ‘Johannesburg is both a place that I know and don’t know’: An interview with Stephen Clingman about his memoir, Birthmark
Stephen Clingman chats to The Reading List about his memoir, Birthmark, published by Jacana Media. The Reading List: Thank you very…
‘What does the K in your name stand for?’ Read an excerpt from Nthikeng Mohlele’s new novel, Michael K
The JRB is proud to present an exclusive excerpt from Nthikeng Mohlele’s new novel, Michael K. Michael K Nthikeng Mohlele Picador…
[Sponsored] Win a copy of The Fatuous State of Severity by Phumlani Pikoli
‘Hauntingly engaging’ – Thandiwe Ntshinga, The South African ‘Crisp, experimental and beautifully weird’ – Phumlani S Langa, City Press Pan…
[Sponsored] Like Sodium in Water, a memoir of post-independence Zimbabwe by Hayden Eastwood
Like Sodium in Water: A Memoir of Home and Heartache by Hayden Eastwood is out in March from Jonathan Ball Publishers. ‘Dad…
[Sponsored] Twists that will shock even the savviest reader: Read an excerpt from The Chalk Man, the debut novel by CJ Tudor
Penguin Random House has shared an excerpt from The Chalk Man, the new novel by CJ Tudor. Expertly alternating between flashbacks…
‘Spending time with Bra Willie is the closest thing to being in touch with the soul of this country’: Read Mandla Langa’s Introduction to Keorapetse Kgositsile’s Homesoil in My Blood
Homesoil in My Blood: A Trilogy Keorapetse Kgositsile Xarra Books, 2018 Exclusive to The JRB, we present author Mandla Langa’s…
Is Cyril Ramaphosa the man to lead South Africa out of its political and economic crisis? Read an excerpt from Ramaphosa: The Man Who Would Be King by Ray Hartley
The JRB presents an excerpt from Ramaphosa: The Man Who Would Be King by Ray Hartley. Ramaphosa: The Man Who…
[Sponsored] ‘A Woman’s Place is in The Struggle’—Read an excerpt from The Knock on the Door
Pan Macmillan South Africa has shared an excerpt from The Knock on the Door: The Story of the Detainees’ Parents Support…
[Sponsored] Read the opening chapters of Peter Carey’s new book A Long Way From Home
A Long Way From Home, the new book from award-winning author Peter Carey, is out soon from Jonathan Ball Publishers….
[Sponsored] Mozambique and Brazil: Analysing and investigating a historical relationship
Brazil and Mozambique: Forging New Partnerships or Developing Dependency?, by Chris Alden, Sergio Chichava and Ana Cristina Alves, is out now from Jacana…
‘These were not men fighting, but corpses’—Read an excerpt from Marcus Low’s Asylum
Read an excerpt from Marcus Low’s debut novel Asylum—an existential thriller set in a quarantine facility in the arid Karoo—which…
[Sponsored] ‘Good writing inspires creativity!’ – Mary Lynn Bracht chats about her debut novel, White Chrysanthemum
White Chrysanthemum, the powerful and moving debut novel by Mary Lynn Bracht, is out now from Penguin Random House South Africa. In…
[Sponsored] Read an excerpt from Wake Me When I’m Gone, the second novel by Nigerian author Odafe Atogun
Odafe Atogun is one of the most exciting new literary voices in contemporary African writing. His debut novel, Taduno’s Song, was…
[Sponsored] First look at Knucklebone, the debut novel from Nechama Brodie
Nechama Brodie’s debut novel Knucklebone will be published by Pan Macmillan in February! The book comes highly recommended by Sarah…
[Sponsored] What went so badly wrong with land restitution? A new book investigates
A new book titled Rights to Land: A Guide to Tenure Upgrading and Restitution in South Africa, by William Beinart,…
[Sponsored] Listen to an audio book preview of The Demon Crown: The new Sigma Force novel by James Rollins
The Demon Crown is the new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins, the latest riveting and…
New short fiction: Fred Khumalo’s debut isiZulu short story ‘Kwakungcono eGibhithe’, from the anthology Izinkanyezi Ezintsha
The JRB presents new fiction from novelist and memoirist Fred Khumalo. This a first for both The JRB and Khumalo:…
[In Memoriam] Watch a video of Keorapetse ‘Bra Willie’ Kgositsile on the importance of platforms for African literature
The Johannesburg Review of Books presents footage in memoriam of South Africa’s National Poet Laureate, Keorapetse Kgositsile, who passed away…
[Sponsored] Listen to an excerpt from The Sparsholt Affair, the masterly new novel from Alan Hollinghurst
Pan Macmillan has shared an excerpt from audiobook of The Sparsholt Affair, the highly anticipated new novel from Alan Hollinghurst….
[Sponsored] Jacques Pauw’s groundbreaking book In the Heart of the Whore: The Story of Apartheid’s Death Squads
Jacques Pauw’s groundbreaking book In the Heart of the Whore: The Story of Apartheid’s Death Squads, originally published in 1991, has…
[Sponsored] First look at Under Glass, the new novel from Claire Robertson
Penguin Random House South Africa has revealed details of the new Claire Robertson novel, to be released in January 2018. Robertson…