[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…
Author: The JRB
[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…
[Sponsored] Read an excerpt from New Times, the new novel from award-winning author Rehana Rossouw
Courtesy of Jacana Media, an excerpt from New Times, the much-anticipated new novel from Rehana Rossouw. Rossouw is the acclaimed…
‘Should we let fiction die a natural death? No.’—Andrew Miller argues for the importance of writing stories in a time of digital disorder
Comment for The JRB’s inaugural Fiction Issue by novelist Andrew Miller. ~ ~ ~ One of the most interesting aspects…
[Fiction issue] An excerpt from Imagine Ghosts Telling Tales in front of Smoky Mirrors, the debut novel by SL Masunda
Exclusive to The JRB, an excerpt from the debut novel of Zimbabwean author SL Masunda. Imagine Ghosts Telling Tales in…
The JRB Vol. 1, Issue 8 cover image features a photograph from Johannesburg. Made in China
The JRB cover image this week comes from Johannesburg. Made in China, the ninth book of Fourthwall Books’s acclaimed series Wake Up,…
[The JRB Daily] The Caine Prize wasn’t what I thought it would be: Efemia Chela traces the real value of big literary prizes
In a piece for the Caine Prize blog titled ‘An Unexpected Prize’, Efemia Chela describes how losing out on the…
[The JRB Daily] He seemed invincible: Petina Gappah reflects on Robert Mugabe’s rule
Writing for the New Yorker, The JRB Editorial Advisory Panel member Petina Gappah contemplates ‘How Zimbabwe Freed Itself From Robert Mugabe’. Mugabe’s resignation…
[The JRB Daily] Dove, Lifebuoy and apartheid: Panashe Chigumadzi considers soap’s hidden significance in the control of black bodies
The New York Review of Books has featured an article by Panashe Chigumadzi, titled ‘Soap and South Africa’s “Fatal Intimacy”‘….
The Johannesburg Review of Books Vol. 1, Issue 7 (November 2017)
Welcome to the seventh issue of The Johannesburg Review of Books. This month, it gives me great pleasure to announce…
[Sponsored] South Africans are not buying local fiction: Jacana Media aims to Save Our Stories
Jacana Media has kicked off an project called Storied, which aims to help African stories thrive—long term—and reach worldwide audiences….
[Sponsored] ‘No wallet, no ID, no credit cards.’ Read an excerpt from Johan Vlok Louw’s new novel A Gap in the Hedge
Read an excerpt from A Gap in the Hedge – the new South African novel that everyone is talking about….
[Sponsored] New book alert! Bantu Holomisa: The Gamechanger
Bantu Holomisa: The Gamechanger, an authorised biography by Eric Naki, is out from Pan Macmillan South Africa in November. The…
[Sponsored] Fiction is like dreaming: Jennifer Egan chats about her latest book, Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach is the long-awaited novel from Jennifer Egan, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Visit from the Goon Squad. Manhattan…
Read an excerpt from the first full-length biography of Christopher Okigbo, a cult hero for a new wave of young African writers
Exclusive to The JRB, an excerpt from the newly published first-ever biography of the Nigerian poet Christopher Okigbo: Christopher Okigbo 1930—67, Thirsting…
The JRB Vol. 1, Issue 7 cover image features a photograph from Johannesburg In Your Pocket
Our November issue’s cover image comes from Johannesburg In Your Pocket. The photograph features Clive van den Berg’s sculpture The Eland,…
[The JRB Daily] Open call for applications for the Malba Writers Residency in Buenos Aires
Open call REM—Malba Writers Residence Annual application: From 5 October to 5 December, 2017 Residences: April-May; September-October, 2018 The Literature…
[Sponsored] Read an excerpt from Bare Ground—the debut novel from award-winning writer Peter Harris
Pan Macmillan SA is proud to present Bare Ground, the debut novel by acclaimed non-fiction writer Peter Harris. Harris’s 2009…
[Sponsored] Launch of Redi Tlhabi’s new book Khwezi breaks book launch attendance and sales records
Redi Tlhabi’s new book Khwezi: The Remarkable Story of Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo broke book launch attendance and sales records recently….
[Sponsored] Win a copy of Woman in the Wings: Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the new book by Carien du Plessis
Win one of three copies of Woman in the Wings: Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the new book by Carien du Plessis! Who…
[Sponsored] Read an excerpt from Wolf Trap, the new novel from bestselling South African author Consuelo Roland
Consuelo Roland is the bestselling author of The Good Cemetery Guide and The Limbo Trilogy, a mystery-suspense series set in…
New short fiction from Short Sharp Stories: Ntsika Gogwana’s powerful story of love and murder, ‘Home Cooked’
Exclusive to The JRB, new short fiction from Ntsika Gogwana, excerpted from Trade Secrets, the new Short Sharp Stories anthology. Gogwana’s story,…
The JRB Vol. 1, Issue 6 cover image features a photograph from UP UP: Stories of Johannesburg’s Highrises
Main image: Mpho Mokgadi This month’s cover image comes from UP UP: Stories of Johannesburg’s Highrises. UP UP: Stories of Johannesburg’s…
[Sponsored] Defining Black Consciousness publicly for the first time: Read an excerpt from The Testimony of Steve Biko
When Steve Biko entered the courtroom in Pretoria in 1974 as a star witness in the trial of nine student…
[Sponsored] Jacana Media host vital discussion on decolonising South African book editing
Sabata-Mpho Mokae, Dudu Busani-Dube, Helen Moffett, Rehana Rossouw and Malebo Sephodi recently featured on a panel discussing how to decolonise…
[Sponsored] Jonathan Ball Publishers is giving away a book a day in September
For the month of September, Jonathan Ball Publishers will be giving away one book a day on Twitter. Jonathan Ball…
[Sponsored] An interview with bestselling author Ali Land ahead of her South African tour
Ali Land, the author of Good Me Bad Me—‘one of the most extraordinary, controversial and explosive literary debuts of 2017’—is in…
Read an exclusive excerpt from Dikeledi, the new novel from award-winning author Achmat Dangor
Exclusive to The JRB, an excerpt from Achmat Dangor’s newly released novel, Dikeledi. Dangor, a political activist and award-winning author,…
[Sponsored] We did not know it was the final farewell: An excerpt from Karina M Szczurek’s memoir, The Fifth Mrs Brink
Jonathan Ball Publishers has shared an excerpt from The Fifth Mrs Brink, Karina M Szczurek’s soul-baring memoirs of her life before,…
[Sponsored] Reflecting Rogue – the hotly anticipated new book from Pumla Dineo Gqola
Reflecting Rogue is the much anticipated and brilliant collection of experimental autobiographical essays on power, pleasure and South African culture by…
[Sponsored] 3 new books commemorate the 40th anniversary of Steve Biko’s death
Pan Macmillan South Africa is publishing three books this year to honour the life and work of Steve Biko. The…
[Sponsored] Astonishing and brilliant: A State of Freedom, the new novel from Neel Mukherjee
A State of Freedom, the new novel from Neel Mukherjee, will be out from Penguin Random House South Africa this month….
‘Smaller’: New short fiction from Nick Mulgrew’s forthcoming collection, The First Law of Sadness
Exclusive to The JRB, new short fiction by South African writer Nick Mulgrew, excerpted from his forthcoming collection The First…