Brevitas Publishers

29/11/2021

We have a new book out."Fishing stories from the Wild Coast and Border Region of South Africa", by Mike Thompson (author of "Traders of Transkei").
To order a copy, phone Mike Schroeter 083-284 2219

24/08/2017

New book NOW AVAILABLE!
250 pages, hard cover, R240-00 plus R50 postage- limited print run .
John Engelbrecht is the son of Eileen Engelbrecht (née Webb) and nephew of Gerald and Ernest Webb, Eileen’s brothers. In the late 1940s, Gerald and Ernest purchased trading stores in the hinterland of the coastal resort of Mpame, where they built a holiday cottage, with assistance from various extended family members.
In this book John recalls holidays at the trading stores and at Mpame, with the extended Webb family, and the related Stride and Clark families. The book provides a cameo of the Transkei Wild Coast, the Webb’s trading stores, and the Mpame Beach Camp, in the 1950s and ‘60s, and the web of connections between the various people and the places.
The book makes a valuable contribution to the recorded history of the Wild Coast and deserves a place on the bookshelf of any Wild Coast history enthusiast. To order go to http://www.thewildcoaster.co.za

08/04/2016

The "Promise of Justice" by John G I Clarke details essential history of the current Amadiba Mining struggle. To support and inform on the struggle, as publishers, Clive Dennison and I now offer this book (previously R 295 + R 50 postage) at R 200 + R 50 postage, R 100 rand to be donated to Sustaining the Wild Coast and the struggle. (For orders see http:www.thewildcoaster.co.za books)

The Wild Coaster in Pietermaritzburg offers Wildcoast History, Crafts, Books, Boats and Dvds

01/11/2015

Footprints in Paradise A History of
The Wild Coast
Edition 2 (Brevitas)

367 pages of 17 x 24 cm. Hard, glossy cover.

This book, which is apparently unique in its scope, covers the history of the Wild Coast and the many outstanding characters featuring in that history.

The story starts with the earliest Khoisan inhabitants, followed by two waves of Bantu people, Portuguese seafarers and Dutch and British colonizers. An outline of global politics, especially the contest between Britain and France, is given by way of an explanation of why the British took over the Cape, almost by default.

Later the British took over the Transkei Territories, for multifaceted reasons but partly to prevent them being taken over by Germany. An iron age culture, surrounded for hundreds of years by a non-trading stone age culture, was thus brought into traumatic contact with one of the world’s greatest trading nations of that time. The results were dramatic and continue to reverberate to this day.

The narrative continues through the 2nd World War period and the battle against the U-boats, and on, through the Transkei Independence period, up to the present.

Punctuating the history of the Wild Coast are many shipwrecks, including that of the East Indiaman, the Grosvenor, the mystery of the Waratah and the dramatic sinking of the Oceanos, among many others.

For anyone interested in the Wild Coast, this is a “must read” book.

Currently out of print but available shortly. (Order now).

01/11/2015

Sidelights on Port St.Johns 1929 - 1938
(Brevitas)
Coming Soon

Cyril Rooke Prance was an eccentric resident of Port St Johns in the 1920s and ‘30s. He wrote a number of books (eight, in all) including this one, which comprises a compendium of a number of articles published in various newspapers and magazines in the period 1929-1938.

Collectively these articles provide a fascinating (and amusing) insight into life in Port St Johns in those times. It is being republished with permission.

In preparation – coming soon. To order contact www.thewildcoaster.co.za

01/11/2015

91 pages of 17 x 24 cm. soft, glossy cover.

This history of Ramsgate on the KZN South Coast, was written by Doreen Gaze, well known as the proprietor of the Gaze Gallery and, formerly, of The Waffle House. It provides an interesting read for those interested in the development of this coastal village and provides an informative contrast with Wild Coast villages.

Currently available at R130-00
plus R50-00 postage
(also available at Gaze Gallery and Ramsgate Stationers). To order trey www.the

01/11/2015

Air Marshal Sir Leonard
Horatio Slatter
(Brevitas)

150 pages of 17 x 24 cm. Hard, glossy cover.

Leonard Slatter was born in Durban and played a major role in the RAF before and during WW2.

He commanded the RAF’s High Speed Flight, which won the Schneider Trophy, for racing floatplanes, in 1927. The Spitfire fighter and the Rolls Royce Merlin engine were developed from these contests. In WW2 he commanded the Allied Air Forces in East Africa, in the Mediterranean and in the Battle of the Atlantic. He was knighted for his services and, I am told, is the only South African - besides Jan Smuts - to attain the military rank of Marshal.

The book was written by his nephew, Leonard Chiazzari, of Richmond, KZN, who was a pilot in the SAAF in WW2.

Currently available at R120-00 plus R50 postage. To order contact wwww.thewildcoaster.co.za

01/11/2015

Memoirs of a Transkei Trading Family
(Brevitas)

245 pages of 17 x 24 cm. Hard, glossy cover.

This book will appeal to those with an interest in the Transkei and Wild coast.
It concerns the Davis Family of Old Bunting and Wilo trading stores and comprises the reminiscences of Harold Davis, who was brought up at Old Bunting and later traded at Wilo, and those of his son, Grant.

The book stretches over about four generations of the Davis family and, gives a fascinating insight into life in the Transkei in those times.

Currently available at R180-00 plus R45 postage. To order contact www.thewildcoaster.co.za

01/11/2015

The Promise of Justice
(Brevitas)

415 pages of 17 x 24 cm. Hard, glossy cover.

You have undoubtedly heard of the controversies concerning the proposed Toll Road and the proposed mining of the Xolobeni dunes in Pondoland?
What you might not know about is the connections between the mining, “The Road", toll roads in Gauteng and efforts by the govenment to depose the Mpondo King.

John Clarke stumbled innocently into this maelstrom of competing interests by taking his family on a horse ride along the Pondoland coast, organised by Amadiba Adventures.
As a social worker, he got caught up in the current and was swept along on a decade-long adventure.

Here he tells the tale and unravels the many threads, viz.:
Government making promises to a foreign mining house that they could not keep, but trying with increasing desperation to do so, against the will of the local people who do not want mining in their area.
Government trying to force through a toll road to support the mining endeavour, but against the wishes of the local community and many others.
Co-option of some local people by the mining company, leading to major schisms in the community and at least one alleged murder.
Attempts by government to depose the Mpondo King, for expressing the will of his people against the mining and "The Road”.

Corruption, intimidation, murder - what a tale, and it’s all here in Clarke’s book. A movie will undoubtedly follow.

Currently available at R200-00 plus R50-00 for postage. (R100 donated to support the current Amadiba mining crisis). PLEASE SUPPORT! To order contact www.thewildcoaster.co.za

01/11/2015

Traders and Trading Stations of the
Central and Southern Transkei
3rd Edition
(Brevitas)

346 pages of 17 x 24 cm. Hard, glossy cover.

This is the promised 3rd edition of Mike Thompson’s book.
As before it is the result of further contributions from former traders or their families.
It is now a substantial book, of over 700 pages, and is hard covered, as before.

Only 250 copies have been printed and this is likely to be the last iteration of Mike’s book so, if you want one, do not delay in ordering.

Currently available (soft cover) at R370-00 including postage and packaging
To order contact www.thewildcoaster.co.za

01/11/2015

Once in my beloved Transkei
(Brevitas)

239 pages of 17 x 24 cm. Hard, glossy cover.

In this Memoir Harold Bruce relates his early life in Umtata, service in the Royal Navy and his career as a builder (he built most of the high-rise buildings in Umtata).

He was the father-in-law of Donald Woods and he describes the role he played in the escape of the Woods family to Lesotho.

Currently available at R200-00
plus R50 for postage.To order contact www.thewildcoaster.co.za