As We Were: South Africa 1939–1941 - Margot Bryant
As We Were: South Africa 1939–1941
A Captivating Frontline Social Record of Wartime South Africa with Archival Dust Jacket
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: As We Were: South Africa 1939–1941
- Author: Margot Bryant
- Publisher: Keartland Publishers, Johannesburg
- Publication Date: 1974
- ISBN-10: 0949997226
- Edition Details: First Edition. Original 1974 hardcover release.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium hardback cloth binding with gilt-stamped spine lettering.
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo). Enhanced with essential archival imagery from South Africa's home front and overseas military deployment periods.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Boards: The original cloth-bound boards are flat, structurally sound, and securely attached. Minimal shelf friction is present at the base of the spine block.
- Interior: Very Good (VG). The interior text block is clean and firmly bound. There is light, natural age-toning (browning) localized strictly to the preliminary pages and endpapers, entirely typical for South African paper stock of the 1974 era. The internal pages are entirely free from pen highlighting, owner signatures, or folded corners.
- The Dust Jacket: Good (G)
- Shows generalized exterior shelfwear and light edge friction. The vintage jacket has been professionally cleaned and enclosed within a brand-new, archival-grade clear plastic protective sleeve, preserving it from future wear and displaying wonderfully on the shelf.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Margot Bryant's As We Were is a profound, beautifully compiled social and political history capturing South Africa during the volatile opening years of the Second World War (1939–1941). Bryant vividly captures a country deeply divided over its wartime loyalties, tracking the fierce parliamentary debates that led to General J.B.M. Hertzog's ousting and General Jan Smuts' decision to join the Allied war effort. Beyond elite politics, the book shines a light on the dramatic transformations of everyday life—from the rapid mobilization of industrial factories to the social impacts of the home-front volunteer guards. This collectible copy remains a highly sought-after, scarce piece of 20th-century militaria literature.
Author Profile: Margot Bryant
Margot Bryant was an accomplished South African social historian, researcher, and author active mid-century. She specialized in mid-20th-century cultural dynamics, capturing changing societal structures, gender roles, and home-front activities during global conflicts. Her work is celebrated for its deep reliance on contemporary newspaper archives, letters, and eyewitness accounts, giving her narratives unmatched authenticity.
