A magisterial history of South Africa, from the earliest known human inhabitation of the region to the present.

Leonard Thompson, a leading scholar in southern African history and politics, provides a fresh and penetrating exploration of the country’s history, from the earliest known human inhabitation of the region to the present, focusing primarily on experiences of its black inhabitants.

This new edition takes the reader up to 2012 with  the centenary celebration of the African National Congress.

“A history that is both accurate and authentic, written in a delightful literary style.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu

“Should become the standard general text for South African history. . . . Recommended for college classes and anyone interested in obtaining a historical framework in which to place events occurring in South Africa today.” – Roger B. Beck, History: Reviews of New Books