Book of the Month March 2009

Onderstepoort 1908-2008 portrays an intriguing history and makes fascinating reading. Although not intended to be one, it is a textbook on animal diseases in South Africa; it is also a textbook on perseverance, innovation, human relations and the art of negotiation and problem solving, while providing glimpses of the future and where we are going. The book is essentially a resumé of the challenges that faced researchers, scientists and diagnosticians over the past 100 years, who came forth with solutions to the problems posed by animal diseases that were in many instances unknown - not only in South Africa but also in much of the rest of the world. Many of the solutions found by its dedicated and devoted gallery of scientists, researchers, technologists and teachers were often a world's first, and many remain valid and in use today. The golden thread of the book is the wonderful insight it gives into the people who made history, the interplay of human relations, the leaders who effected changes in direction; the human successes and failures, veterinary politics, and personality clashes, all recounted with a good deal of underlying and essential veterinary humour. It is a book that asks to be read again and again - not only by veterinarians, scientists and researchers, but also by students, farmers, agriculturalists, historians, animal lovers and those who have heard the name of Onderstepoort and wish to know more about this historic cradle of veterinary science in southern Africa.

Source : Onderstepoort 1908-2008 ; editors D.W. Verwoerd & R.D. Bigalke

Book of the Month Jan/Feb 2009

The Karoo Cookbook /compiled by Rose Willis photography by Ryno (first published 2008)


From the earliest days of South Africa's history, food has set the social scene in the Karoo. It was a treat, a reward, and a way to welcome guests and bid farewell to friends. Karoo food is as limitless as the land - vast, diverse, all consuming. And like the land, the cuisine captivates visitors, enticing them back time and time again to experience the culinary delights.
Karoo lamb is famous the world over for its delicious flavour and tenderness, and visitors to the region, even from the earliest days, make a point of trying out this speciality. Today farms supply every need as far as fresh or dried fruit are concerned and the small stock farmed throughout the Karoo provides a tasty range of mutton, lamb and goat. Pork, poultry and beef help ring the changes and venison and ostrich cater for those who are watching their waistlines.
Karoo kitchens are redolent of roasting lamb, venison, pies, hearty casseroles, or coffee, rusks and fragrant home-made bread, and their doors are always open to welcome friends, family and visitors to share in this bounty. The rich tradition of Karoo cuisine and hospitality dates back to a time when there were no hotels in the area and travellers were welcomed into homes to bring news to these isolated areas.
The collection of recipes in The Karoo Cookbook portrays this region's diverse social fabric and, while some dishes such as Mutton Bredie and Venison Stew are rooted in tradition, others like Beef Fillet with Anchovy Stuffing or Karoo "oysters" with Wild Mushrooms and Red Wine Sauce are as modern and adventurous as tomorrow.
The recipes in The Karoo Cookbook have been gathered from those who live (or have lived) in and love the Karoo. These warm, hospitable people all enjoy entertaining and have generously contributed their recipes so that others may bring some of the magic of this place into their own homes.
Something about the author:
Rose Willis's great love for the Karoo began in the 1980's, when she and her husband, Wally Kriek, bought a house allegedly designed by Sir Herbert Baker for Beaufort West's first magistrate. It was in great need of TLC, but it had a mountain almost in its backyard and a huge, farm-style kitchen. Rose, a city girl, had never lived in a dorpie before, but the Karoo allowed her to indulge her dual love of historic research and cooking. She discovered that this was a world where townspeople and farm folk easily shared recipes - and the stories behind them - so she began collecting these taste treats, which led to the publication of this book.
After the death of her husband in 2003, Rose moved to Bloemfontein to be closer to her family. She has not lost touch with her beloved Karoo and still publishes Rose's Round-up, a monthly newsletter she created in 1990 to promote the area. Rose now serves on The Free State Archives Council, is president of The Town and Country Ladies Group and also teaches English to pre-school children.
Source : The Karoo Cookbook /compiled by Rose Willis (2008)

Book of the Month December 2008

Craft South Africa In an African context there is really no distinction between "craft" and "art".
Craft South Africa is a visual celebration of South Africa's extraordinary wealth of handmade objects and the people who craft them. From elegant traditional water-storage pots made in rural areas to sophisticated silver jewellery fashioned in urban studios, from headdresses that have adorned Zulu maidens for over a century to contemporary tapestries that explore new materials such as safety pins, the tradition of inspired craft remains a vital expression of the communal nature of South African society.
The authors, all experts in the field of South African craft, develop three themes:
Traditional looks at objects created in ways that have remained unchanged for decades. Many of these objects, originally used for practical everyday activities, now have pride of place in homes from Johannesburg to New York.
Transitional explores craft objects that have their roots in traditional methods of materials but have been adapted to incorporate new materials and techniques - for instance telephone wire baskets that combine traditional basket-making technique with a new material to create highly sought-after decor objects.
Contemporary celebrates the creation, using both old and new materials, of contemporary designer ware and one-of-a-kind craft objects.
Craft South Africa is a fascinating tale of the intuitive creativity of craftspeople in a country of widely diverse people, all contributing their knowledge, skill and, frequently, their humour and whimsy to a pool of crafts that is unique to South Africa

Source: Craft South Africa by Susan Sellschop, Wendy Goldblatt and Doreen Hemp

Book of the Month November 2008

1455 Gutenberg Bible: The first book ever printed
Facsimile reproduction

"The first thing ever printed by the inventor of the printing press, was a Latin Bible printed in Germany in 1455. A magnificent work of art, these Bibles were hand-illuminated with many full-colour images and decorations.
One would think that the first book would have been very primitive and of poor quality, but this is not the case. Gutenberg's Bible was a stunningly beautiful work done in beautiful type style, and then hand-illuminated in a rainbow of colours, as well as liquid gold. Even the paper used was of the highest quality and bore unusual and artful watermarks."

http://www.greatsite.com/facsimile-reproductions/gutenberg-1455.html

Experts have established that Gutenberg probably printed 180 Bibles, 30 on parchment and 150 on paper. Today only 20 complete originals exist in the world. Six are in the United States, including one in the Library of Congress.

The Gutenberg Bible was first referred to as the 42-line Bible for purely technical reasons. The typesetting was prepared so that the text would appear in compact columns of exactly 42 lines.

The identical reprint of the Gutenberg Bible required countless hours of work by highly qualified professionals: craftsmen and artists who employed century-old methods first used by 15 th century printers and 16 th century papermakers.

Who was the man responsible for the greatest invention of all time?

To begin with, his real name was Johann Gensfleisch. His family home had a sign in front bearing the inscription, "Zu Guten Berg", meaning " the beautiful mountain", and this pseudonym became the accepted family name. His father was a master goldsmith and coinmaker for the Archbishop of Mainz and belonged to the city's wealthy class of families. The young Gutenberg was a gifted apprentice in his father' s shop, and quickly mastered the necessary skills for metalwork.
Gutenberg was born in Mainz between 1394 and 1399. Almost sixty years later, between 1452 and 1456, Gutenberg printed the first book ever - the Bible. He died in 1468.

Source: Pamphlet by Midwest Library Service, 11443 St. Charles Rock Road Bridgeton, MO 63044

Book of the Month October 2008

101 Beloved Bars of Southern Africa is really a travel book with lots of interesting pit stops built into it. Long-time road writers, humourists and tipplers-at-large Pat Hopkins and Chris Marais each take half of southern Africa and drink it dry on a mission to seek out and expose some of the wackiest, wildest and most beloved watering holes south of the Sahara. In this book you will discover why a beer tastes good in one pub and not in another; the dubious pleasures of Vattikakki Witblits; why drinking in a Karoo bar actually boosts your health and longevity; how to get drunk in a baobab tree; where Elvis Presley's love child drinks; the art of bokdrol spitting; and much, much more. 101 Beloved Bars of Southern Africa has everything a drinking man or woman needs for a companion guide to some of the best boozy establishments of southern Africa.

Something about the authors:

Pat Hopkins is a history and political science graduate from the University of Natal. He is an award-winning writer, travel journalist and author of more than a dozen books, including The Boy, Eccentric South Africa, Cringe, the Beloved Country, Ghosts of South Africa and Voëlvry. He lives in Johannesburg with his wife and two daughters.
Chris Marais a writer and photographer who has worked on assignment in more than 50 countries around the world, normally travels with his wife, Julienne du Toit. Together they have produced A Drink of Dry Land, Namibia Space, Shorelines and Coast to Coast. This is his first co-production with his old friend and drinking buddy, Pat Hopkins.

Source: 101 Beloved Bars of Southern Africa by Pat Hopkins and Chris Marais

Book of the Month September 2008

Tukkies oorskou sy eerste honderd jaar 1908-2008 / Flip van der Watt

In Tukkies Oorskou sy Eerste Honderd Jaar het prof. Flip van der Watt, kerk- en kultuurhistorikus van formaat, deur middel van kort, tematiese essays verskillende fasette van die ontstaan, wasdom en prestasies van die Universiteit van Pretoria meesterlik toegelig. Dit is geen dorre, volledig kronologiese geskiedenis van Tukkies nie, maar die outeur het nietemin daarin geslaag om 'n magdom inligting aangaande die Universiteit in 'n maklike verteerbare vorm deur middel van flitsbeeldkameë in 'n vloeiende en onderhoudende skryfstyl byeen te bring. Die outeur het nie daarvan teruggedeins om omstrede en sensitiewe onderwerpe, soos byvoorbeeld die taalkwessie, aan te sny en met 'n groot mate van objektiwiteit te skets nie. Die talle, deeglik geselekteerde illustrasies sluit uitmuntend by Van der Watt se teks aan en het daartoe bygedra dat hierdie publikasie 'n keurige en waardige eeufeesbundel is.

Bron: Tukkies oorskou sy eerste honderd jaar 1908-2008 / Flip van der Watt
Prof Cobus Ferreira
Stigtingsdirekteur van UP Argief.

Book of the Month August 2008

New History of South Africa ©2007 / Hermann Giliomee & Bernard Mbenga

A new, up-to-date history of South Africa
Written by 31 of South Africa's top historians
The first comprehensive history since 1991
Includes new discoveries about the origin of humanity in Africa
Lavishly illustrated
Readable narrative style, interspersed with text boxes, makes the story of South Africa come alive
Also available in Afrikaans as Nuwe Geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika

Source : New History of South Africa ©2007 / Hermann Giliomee & Bernard Mbenga