Böcker av Edward Joffe

Loved and loving, indulged, even downright spoilt and at the heartof a migrant family whose forebears had sought a haven and livelihoodin South Africa in the late 19th century, Edward Joffe's memoir of hisJohannesburg up-bringing is not only a happy romp through the travailsand adventures of childhood to adulthood but also a vivid window on20th century life in a country of dramatic and often bitter contrasts.Acutely drawn characters people Eddie's early life - from the bodybuildingAsh to the London Cockney Gran with her Boer War memories,from Aunt Minnie decorating every available surface with shells to theMarist Brothers College where the teachers are "a cast of charactersfrom some down market theatrical farce."There are happy times playing in the storeroom of Eddie's - hisfather's successful greengrocer's - and on Jo'burg's koppies. There's aRichmal Crompton "Just William" aura about Eddie and his chums.College and University life opens up a new seam of adventure -sexual and commercial - hilarious at times and poignant at others.A student tour of post-war Europe is so evocative of an era that thispassage could stand alone as a record of its time.Again Eddie's real talent for characterisation and description is tothe fore. Not certain of a career path he dabbles in being an art dealer, ajewellery salesman, an advertising agent....As a soundman he producedwedding recordings then goes on an Africa-wide adventure as writer/ director with an eccentric fi lm producer and here a possible futurecareer comes into view.However, there is a very moving and serious side to this story asEddie becomes increasingly aware of the gulf - savagely enforced bylegislation and a zealous police force - between the black, coloured andwhite populations. The blatant injustice of it all becomes so intolerableto him that, with his new bride, he heads for Britain, delighted also tohave escaped from, and outwitted, his new father-in-law.Evelyn Hood