Vorster – Die Mens (Afrikaans Edition) Author: John D'Oliveira
Vorster – Die Mens (Afrikaans Edition)
An Intimate and Revealing Glimpse Behind the Stern Political Mask of South Africa's Controversial Prime Minister
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Vorster – Die Mens (Afrikaans Edition)
- Author: John D'Oliveira
- Publisher: Perskor-Uitgewery, Johannesburg
- Publication Date: 1977 (First Edition)
- ISBN-10: 0628012748
- ISBN-13: 9780628012746
- Edition Details: First Edition. Ex-Library Copy.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium hardcover boards with its matching pictorial paper dust jacket.
- Physical Format: Medium Octavo (237 x 158 mm), 273 pages. Fully illustrated with quite a number of historical black-and-white photographs tracking his personal development.
- Language: Afrikaans text.
Official Condition Report
-
The Book: Good (G)
- Exterior / Boards: The original white cover cloth boards are square, structurally rigid, and firm. Features minor surface shelf rubbing and expected corner wear from library handling. The spine remains unbent and firmly attached to the hinges.
- Interior: The 273-page text block is structurally complete and firmly bound. Pages exhibit a light, natural dustiness and minor aging across the preliminary pages (prelims), entirely consistent with standard institutional circulation. Completely free of aggressive text underlining or highlighting.
- Provenance: An official ex-library copy. Features expected institutional library markings, including library ink stamps, barcodes, and typical paper/card pasting remnants on the inner preliminary pages.
-
The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
- Condition details: The original pictorial paper dust jacket remains crisp and visually intact, displaying only minor, standard edge wear and light surface storage rubbing. Free of large open tears or major panel discoloration.
- Preservation: The dust jacket has now been professionally fitted with a brand-new archival-grade, clear plastic protective cover to stabilize edge wear and safeguard it against future handling.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published in 1977 by Perskor, Vorster – Die Mens stands as a highly compelling biographical account that pulls back the stern political mask of Balthazar Johannes Vorster, the Prime Minister of South Africa for over eleven controversial years. Written by veteran political journalist John D'Oliveira, this 273-page study digs into the core question: Who is John Vorster really?
D'Oliveira provides a fascinating, objective look that traces Vorster’s rapid climb from a radical anti-war dissident interned by the Smuts government during World War II directly up to the highest political office in the country. The text relies heavily on private interviews and conversational histories, mapping his childhood, his volatile leadership style, and his deep-seated influence on apartheid-era socio-political dynamics. Highly enhanced by unique historical photographs, this copy serves as a valuable and highly collectible used book providing primary insights into modern South African history and vintage Africana biography.
Author Profile: John D'Oliveira
John D'Oliveira is a highly respected South African political journalist, author, and historical commentator who worked at the forefront of national press galleries during the heights of the Cold War and Apartheid eras. Serving as a senior political reporter and editor for major newspapers, D'Oliveira gained unprecedented, close-quarters access to the inner circles of the National Party leadership. His journalistic approach is widely praised by academics for its objective investigative depth, sharp biographical accuracy, and its direct avoidance of ideological sycophancy, enabling him to write definitive portraits of highly complex national figures.
vorster die mens, john doliveira, perskor 1977, bj vorster biografie, ex library collectible books, vintage afrikana history, afrikaans non fiction politics, used collectible book
