Country of My SkullEver since Nelson Mandela dramatically walked out of prison in 1990 after twenty-seven years behind bars, South Africa has been undergoing a radical transformation. In one of the most miraculous events of the century, the oppressive system of apartheid was dismantled. But how could this country - one of spectacular beauty and promise - come to terms with its ugly past? How could its people, whom the oppressive white government had pitted against one another, live side by side as friends and neighbors? To begin the healing process, Nelson Mandela created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by the renowned cleric Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Established in 1995, the commission faced the awesome task of hearing the testimony of the victims of apartheid as well as the oppressors. In this book, Antjie Krog, a South African journalist and poet who has covered the work of the commission, recounts the drama, the horrors, the wrenching personal stories of the victims and their families. Through the testimonies of victims of abuse and violence, from the appearance of Winnie Mandela to former South African president P.W. Botha's extraordinary courthouse press conference, this award-winning poet leads us on an amazing journey. |
From inside the book
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Page 60
Amongst ourselves , says Coetzee , we developed our own body language . The wink of an eye , the nod of a head , could spell someone's end . Dirk Coetzee has often been accused of stretching stories and fabricating details .
Amongst ourselves , says Coetzee , we developed our own body language . The wink of an eye , the nod of a head , could spell someone's end . Dirk Coetzee has often been accused of stretching stories and fabricating details .
Page 72
The wire was then tied around their bodies to keep the hessian and poles in posi- tion . Laurie and I then threw Charles's body into the river from the bank . I then assisted Sam in doing the same to Shabalala's body .
The wire was then tied around their bodies to keep the hessian and poles in posi- tion . Laurie and I then threw Charles's body into the river from the bank . I then assisted Sam in doing the same to Shabalala's body .
Page 248
Forensic pathologist Dr Patricia Klepp describes the body : ' Stompie Seipei's body had lain in the heat for five days before it was discovered and was infested with maggots . The corpse had been that of a small boy , four and a half ...
Forensic pathologist Dr Patricia Klepp describes the body : ' Stompie Seipei's body had lain in the heat for five days before it was discovered and was infested with maggots . The corpse had been that of a small boy , four and a half ...
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - LibraryCin - LibraryThing2.5 stars Shortly after Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Committee was formed to listen to victims and perpetrators of apartheid. If perpetrators applied ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - patrickgarson - LibraryThingCountry of My Skull is an astonishing book. Krog's attempt to embrace, explicate, and bear witness to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission is complicated, creative, flawed, distressing ... Read full review
Contents
They Never Wept the Men of My Race | 1 |
None More Parted than Us | 14 |
First Hearings | 22 |
Copyright | |
22 other sections not shown
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Common terms and phrases
Afrikaner already amnesty answer Apartheid asked become blood body Botha bring busy called changed child coming Commissioners Committee crying death don't door eyes face fact father feel fire force four front give Government hall hand happened head heard hearing heart honour human it's journalists keep kill kind later leader leave live look Mamasela Mandela means months morning mother murder never night offices Party past person police political questions reconciliation remember responsibility says shot someone sound South African speak stand started Stompie stop story taken talk tell things thought told took town Truth Commission turned Tutu victims voice waiting walk week whole wife woman wrong
Bibliographic information
| Title | Country of My Skull |
| Author | Antjie Krog |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape, 1999 |
| ISBN | 022405936X, 9780224059367 |
| Length | 286 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |