Subjects / South African literature

Best books to learn South African literature, in order

A good path moves through South African literature in four tightly sequenced stages, beginning with the moral and political foundations of the apartheid novel, deepening through the major voices of Gordimer and Coetzee, turning to testimony and truth-commission writing, and finally arriving at the complex, pluralist energies of post-apartheid fiction.

Build your own South African literature list →Browse all paths

Reading paths for south african literature

Popular south african literature books

Frequently asked questions

How should I approach learning south african literature?
A good path moves through South African literature in four tightly sequenced stages, beginning with the moral and political foundations of the apartheid novel, deepening through the major voices of Gordimer and Coetzee, turning to testimony and truth-commission writing, and finally arriving at the complex, pluralist energies of post-apartheid fiction.
What's a good book to start south african literature with?
A strong starting point is Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.
What should I read after south african literature?
Once you have the fundamentals, explore closely related subjects like Polish literature, Czech literature, African American literature.

Related subjects