A Hippopotamus At The TableA true story of a journey to a new life in Cape Town, South Africa in 1975
by Anna Meryt
Format: Paperback
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Poor Condition - Usually this will have a specific problem such as writing inside, water damage, missing dust jacket, heavy staining, large creases or cuts. These are readable copies but not nice ones. On other websites this condition is called 'Acceptable' or 'Fair' , but we want to be more honest.
A young woman, with her husband and baby travelled to South Africa in 1975 at a time when apartheid was at its height. Their journey took them from a high rise apartment in Johannesburg, to a chicken farm and then a thousand miles across the Karoo to Cape Town. There they lived for over two years at a time of growing social unrest against the rigid strictures of the apartheid system. Her husband's work as an actor took him touring from Cape Town to the townships and into major roles in innovative theatre. Her journey became a spiritual quest to make sense of the world in which she found herself, a world where black and white mingled but were kept apart. The government of the time was clamping down, enforcing rigid censorship and the separation of people. It was the children of the townships who fermented the riots of 1976, rebelling against the oppressive rules of a hateful system. The murders of these children resulted in a huge outcry across the world. Censorship kept that largely hidden from many of the people who lived there. This is a story of a young family living in those times in South Africa. The effects of apartheid crept up on them until two tragedies drove them to realise that continuing to live there had become untenable. Reader's comments so far: Compelling, evocative, riveting memoir. I think the easy narrative style did it for me. This is a really impressive piece of writing. I didn't know much about South Africa under apartheid before reading this. An unusual story to tell. Exert from the book: 'Waiting at the reception desk to check in, I saw the toilet signs for the first time, in both Afrikaans and English - Blanke Dames (White Ladies), Nie Blanke Vrou (Non-White Females) ... the first time I had to go, I stood outside, hesitating, feeling that by choosing one I was accepting their distinction.'
Almost New - appears new but is actually secondhand.
Very Good - only minor imperfections such as minor scuffs to edge or cover or a price written in pencil or shop sticker.
Standard Secondhand - Clearly been read before, but not too bad. We do not recommend these for gifting. Spines usually creased. Could also include creases or folds to cover, some writing such as in the cover or elsewhere, underlining or highlighting, but might not do. Possibly some stains or marks. Similar in general to books in any secondhand shop or charity shop.
Poor Condition - Usually this will have a specific problem such as writing inside, water damage, missing dust jacket, heavy staining, large creases or cuts. These are readable copies but not nice ones. On other websites this condition is called 'Acceptable' or 'Fair' , but we want to be more honest.
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