Home › Africa › A History of South Africa
  • A History of South Africa by Leonard Thompson book cover
  • A History of South Africa by Leonard Thompson book cover
1 2

A History of South Africa

by Leonard Thompson

A broad history of South Africa

Critically Recognized
$21.84 USD
$29.12 USD $21.84 USD
Save 25%

Paperback New

Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.
Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Praised by Archbishop Desmond Tutu for its fairness and accuracy

    Praise for the book’s fairness, accuracy, and literary style.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A broad history of South Africa

Leonard Thompson’s account spans South Africa’s past from the earliest known human habitation through the funeral of Nelson Mandela. The revised fourth edition adds a chapter on Thabo Mbeki’s first presidential term, bringing its coverage into the post-apartheid period described in the book. Its emphasis on the region’s Black inhabitants offers a historical frame centered on people whose experiences are often set against the country’s white minority. The book’s wide chronology makes it a useful starting point for tracing how South Africa’s present emerged from its longer history.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers seeking a single-volume introduction to South African history across a long historical span.
  • Students and general readers interested in accounts that foreground Black South Africans’ experiences.
  • Those looking for historical context extending through the Mandela era and Mbeki’s first presidential term.

Themes

South African historyBlack South African experiencesColonialism and political changeHistorical context for modern South Africa

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

A fresh and penetrating exploration of South Africa's history, from the earliest known human inhabitation of the region to the present

"I did not think it was possible for a white person to write a history of South Africa which a black South African would find to be a fair and accurate account of a beautiful land and its people. Leonard Thompson has disabused me of that notion. His is a history that is both accurate and authentic, written in a delightful literary style."--Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The Fourth Edition of this classic text brings South Africa's history up to date with a new chapter chronicling the first presidential term of Mbeki and ending with the funeral of Nelson Mandela.

"An admirably objective history of South Africa . . . [that] will be most useful in contemplating the country's future."--Lorna Hahn, New York Times Book Review

"This is a work of insight and durability that is certain to assist South Africa's coming generation of nation-builders to reach a more objective understanding of their past."--Foreign Affairs

"Concentrating on southern Africa's black inhabitants, rather than on its white minority, this work has received universal praise from scholars and activists alike."--Washington Post Book World

"The text is basic for any reader who wishes to comprehend the historical patterns that preface the struggles that seethe and boil in this country. A careful, reliable book for student research."--School Library Journal

Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
AlbakiReads
Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

E
AlbakiReads
Ella

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

O
AlbakiReads
Olivia

Smooth.