| Main centres: | 1-3 business days |
| Regional areas: | 3-4 business days |
| Remote areas: | 3-5 business days |
Medium hard cover with dust jacket
Small tear top left corner of dust jacket and general shelf-wear
Book in very good condition
G. A. Leyds A History of Johannesburg: The Early Years offers a vivid, firsthand account of the citys transformation from a gold rush settlement into a major urban center.
Written by someone who lived in Johannesburg from 1892 onward, the book draws on Leyds personal experiences, family correspondence, and extensive research. It traces the citys origins with the discovery of gold, the naming of the village, and the rise of early institutions like the Diggers' Committee and the Chamber of Mines. Leyds recounts dramatic events such as the Braamfontein explosion, the Jameson Raid, and the Boer War, while also exploring the social and cultural life of the timesport, music, education, and native labor. His uncle, Dr. W. J. Leyds, was a close adviser to President Kruger, giving the author unique access to political and personal insights. The books twenty-one chapters offer a comprehensive and impartial survey of Johannesburgs formative years, enriched by unpublished letters and documents. Leyds narrative is both scholarly and intimate, preserving the texture of a city in flux and the voices of those who shaped it.
