South of South Africa

Author: Catey, written by
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: South Africa is a place filled with many intense contradictions. It boasts some of the world's most beautiful land and most pleasant climate, yet it also has dangerous cities. It is a land that produces great heroes and legendary figures, yet it also has countless passive, non-resistant people who accept their fate. It is a Rainbow Nation with eleven official languages and a perfect constitution, but discrimination based on skin color remains deeply entrenched. The air is clean, the fruits and vegetables are fresh, and the tap water tastes sweet. However, what prevails every Saturday are not weddings but funerals, and what is in short supply are graves. South Africa can make you dance with excitement, but it can also make your heart bleed. In the dictionary of South Africa, there are no words like moderation, monotony, boredom, or tedium. This book is a collection of essays by Catey, a writer who has lived in South Africa, documenting her observations, experiences, and reflections there. It includes her hour-long interview with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as well as South African novels that may be unfamiliar to Chinese readers, and the vibrant local customs and cultures of the land. Whether it's the presidential election in Zimbabwe, apartheid, or the focus on AIDS orphans, it all reflects her broad international perspective. The topics discussed in The Conscience of South Africa, such as truth and reconciliation, Ubuntu, and Tutu's so-called "Four Evils" (Hitler, Saddam, Bush, and bin Laden), are all deeply meaningful. Her writing is not as polished as Dong Qiao's, nor as elaborate as Yu Qiuqiu's, but rather delicate and clear, gentle yet sharp.