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'Boerejood: One Man’s Quest to Understand the Miracle of Democracy in South Africa' by Julian Roup

Updated: Oct 24

Buy Boerejood: One Man’s Quest to Understand the Miracle of Democracy in South Africa by Julian Roup:


Amazon (UK): click here 

Amazon (US): click here 

Amazon (Canada): click here

Apple Books: click here 

Barnes & Noble: click here 

Google Play: click here

Waterstones: coming soon


 

“Brilliant: engaged, intelligent, personal… and funny” - Financial Times


Ten years after democracy arrived in South Africa here is a book that gives a voice to the Afrikaner, speaking in English about the ‘Miracle’ of the peaceful transition to majority rule – their worst nightmare.


This is a book that goes beyond politics with the very human story of one man, giving insight into the hearts and minds of a people struggling to find their identity as white Africans trying to secure their place in Africa. They are seen through the eyes of a Boerejood – a half-Afrikaans, half-Jewish writer – who struggles himself with issues of identity, reflecting the struggle around him.


In the final analysis Boerejood is about the universal human struggle between good and evil, black and white, justice and injustice, love and hate – all that defines us as being human.


It takes the reader on an astonishing and remarkable journey of discovery, the destination being the soul of the Afrikaner, and an answer to why these people accepted black majority rule with relatively no struggle, after years of racist persecution of their black and brown neighbours.


“Reading Boerejood is like being a voyeur at a hugely animated dinner party where you sit and listen to highly charged debate with intelligent people locking horns. They make fascinating points and then incredibly inane and naïve remarks. Then they dazzle with astute observations. You are hooked and hang on to every word." - Cape Times


 

About the author


Julian Roup is the author of three non-fiction books: a children’s book, A Day In the Life of an MP; A Fisherman in the Saddle, a memoir of growing up in South Africa; and Boerejood, which explores the miracle of peaceful change to democratic rule in South Africa in 1994.


Boerejood received critical praise from many, including the Financial Times in the UK, which described it as: “Brilliant, engaged, intelligent, personal….and funny”. The FT ran a 2,000-word feature on the book as its Weekend Magazine cover story in May 2006.


Julian Roup has a background which combines marketing, journalism and public relations.


Born in South Africa in 1950, he lived in Cape Town for the first 30 years of his life. He has a journalism degree from Rhodes University in South Africa, and worked at the Cape Times and the Cape Argus before emigrating to England in 1980, where he started off writing for the Mid Sussex Times.


He founded his own PR consultancy, Bendigo Communications, in 1993. Clients have included: Virgin Atlantic, Bonhams, Bradford & Bingley, and the Development Agency for the Western Cape in South Africa. He has also created PR campaigns for clients including the British Army, Black Horse Agencies, Christie's, the Government of Malta, the London Underground, British Rail InterCity, NSPCC, and the RSPCA.


He worked as Director of Press and Marketing for Bonhams, the international fine art auction company, for 12 years.


 

Praise for Julian Roup


Evocative of Annie Dillard's chapter about The Tree with the Lights in it, in her book ‘Pilgrim at Tinker Creek’. Beautifully done, Julian.

Leslie Moïse


It is a rare thing to find a book which speaks intimately of a place both you and the author know and love, but even if you aren;t acquainted with Ashdown Forest the appeal is just as strong. Julian brings this magical place to life on the page with a rare depth of feeling. Essential reading and highly recommended - a modern day equivalent to Nan Shepherd's The Living Mountain for the other end of the country!

Paul McKinnel


Beautifully written. You speak the words that we feel in our hearts. Thank You to horses everyday, everywhere. X

Diane Rainbow


This is an amazing piece of writing - absolutely captivated by it and think the author perfectly explains that exquisite relationship that women are able to have with horses. Mine definitely used to give me that illusion of power and strength and almost winged flight all the time. I’ve been to parts of South Africa too and loved the descriptions of the riding country. Thank you for sharing this.

Helen Elizabeth Stone


While reading this lovely woods hymn, I was thinking how I felt exploring the great East Texas forest and had only one word - free. A horse allows freedom.

Kay Motley


I thought you’d like this because a) he writes beautifully; and b) the South African connection.

Miranda Kavanagh


 

Buy Boerejood: One Man’s Quest to Understand the Miracle of Democracy in South Africa by Julian Roup:


Amazon (UK): click here 

Amazon (US): click here 

Amazon (Canada): click here

Apple Books: click here 

Barnes & Noble: click here 

Google Play: click here

Waterstones: coming soon

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