The Hidden History of South Africa's Book and Reading Cultures , Archie L. Dick (NEW)

The Hidden History of South Africa's Book and ReadingCultures , ArchieL. Dick

The Hidden History of South Africa's Book and ReadingCultures shows how the common practice of reading can illuminate the social andpolitical history of a culture. This ground-breaking study reveals resistancestrategies in the reading and writing practices of South Africans; strategiesthat have been hidden until now for political reasons relating to the country'sliberation struggles. By looking to records from a slave lodge, women'sassociations, army education units, universities, courts, libraries, prisondepartments, and political groups, Archie Dick exposes the key works of fictionand non-fiction, magazines, and newspapers that were read and discussed bypolitical activists and prisoners. Uncovering the book and library schemes thatelites used to regulate reading, Dick exposes incidences of intellectual fraud,book theft, censorship, and book burning. Through this innovative methodology,Dick aptly shows how South African readers used reading and books to resistunjust regimes and build community across South Africa's class and racialbarriers.