Martin Meredith Books

Traces the history of Africa in the fifty years since the independence era began, describing how the withdrawal of Europe's colonial powers influenced the African people and culture.

In this vast and vivid panorama of history, Martin Meredith, bestselling author of The State of Africa, follows the fortunes of Africa over a period of 5,000 years. With compelling narrative, he traces the rise and fall of ancient kingdoms and empires; the spread of Christianity and Islam; the enduring quest for gold and other riches; the exploits of explorers and missionaries; and the impact of European colonisation. He examines, too, the fate of modern African states and concludes with a glimpse into their future. This is history on an epic scale.

Robert Mugabe came to power after a long civil war in Rhodesia, becoming president of the country now called Zimbabwe. Initially praised for leading Zimbabwe's social and economic development, it was discovered that the honeymoon was not to last long. Determined to gain total power through a one-party system, Mugabe unleashed a campaign of mass murder and terror against his political opponents in Matabeleland.

Southern Africa was once regarded as a worthless jumble of British colonies, Boer republics, and African chiefdoms, a troublesome region of little interest to the outside world. But then prospectors chanced first upon the world's richest deposits of diamonds, and then upon its richest deposits of gold. What followed was a titanic struggle between the British and the Boers for control of the land, culminating in the costliest, bloodiest, and most humiliating war that Britain had waged in nearly a century, and in the devastation of the Boer republics. Martin Meredith's magisterial account of those years portrays the great wealth and raw power, the deceit, corruption, and racism that lay behind Britain's empire-building in southern Africa. Based on significant new research and filled with atmospheric detail, it focuses on the fascinating rivalry between diamond titan Cecil Rhodes and Paul Kruger, the Boer leader whose only education was the Bible, who believed the earth was flat, yet who defied Britain's prime ministers and generals for nearly a quarter of a century. Diamonds, Gold and War makes palpable the cost of western greed to Africa's native peoples, and explains the rise of the virulent Afrikaner nationalism that eventually took hold in South Africa, with repercussions lasting nearly a century.

By the author of The Fate of Africa: an updated and fully revised edition of the best argued and best written indictment [of Mugabe] yet.--The Economist

Sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island for his part in organizing armed rebellion against South Africa's white rulers, Nelson Mandela stayed faithful to his goal of a peaceful, non-racial democracy, and became for many the symbol of hope for their country at the mercy of Apartheid. His release, 27 years later, had a profound effect on his former adversaries and led to a negotiated settlement.

Africa does not give up its secrets easily. Buried there lie answers to the origins of humankind. After a century of investigation, scientists have transformed our understanding about the beginnings of human life.

Seit Jahrtausenden fasziniert der akrikanische Elefant durch seine Kraft und sein Sozialverhalten. Er steht wie kein anderes Lebewesen für die Größe, aber auch für die Unterwerfung und Ausbeutung Akfrikas.§Der Autor entführt auf seiner Lese-Safarai in die aufregende Welt eines der ältesten Gefährten der Menschheit - ein ungewöhnlicher Blick auf die afrikanische Geschichte und ein eindringliches Plädoyer für den Artenschutz.