Published by Portobello on 3 March, A JUST DEFIANCE is Peter Harris's brilliant insider account of the trial of four young ANC soldiers charged with a series of political murders in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1987.
Peter is on tour in Stockholm for the book's Swedish publication by Leopard. On Friday 4 March he will be appearing at the Mitchell Library with Kevin Bloom at Glasgow's Aye Write! Festival, discussing the state of the nation in South Africa now.
Peter will appear on Start the Week with Andrew Marr at 9 am on BBC Radio 4 on Monday 7 March.
A JUST DEFIANCE will then have its official launch at an evening event at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London next Monday 7 March.
Date: Monday 7th March, 6.30pm
Venue: Brunei Suite, SOAS, Thornhaugh St, London WC1H0XG
Speakers: Peter Harris (Author of 'A Just Defiance')
Respondent: Rt. Hon Peter Hain MP (Prominent anti apartheid activist and former government minister)
Chair: Richard Dowden (Director of the Royal African Society)
Event description:
1987,
Pretoria four young black men have just been arrested for a horrific
string of political murders. There's no doubt that they're guilty of
everything they're accused of - and more. But in a society driven by
brutal repression and racial tensions, are they assassins or freedom
fighters? Peter Harris is the lawyer called upon to defend them. In
gripping prose, Harris intercuts the story of their trial with
flashbacks to the squad's operations to reveal a campaign planned with
coldblooded brilliance and carried out with deadly efficiency. The theme
of political justification of violence runs through the book.
The discussion will be followed by a drinks reception. Please RSVP for all RAS events at RSVP@royalafricansociety.org
Do also click here to read a summary of the book, written by the author himself.
A JUST DEFIANCE was first published under the title IN A DIFFERENT TIME by Umuzi in South Africa in 2008, where it won the country's premier non-fiction prizes. Leopard are publishing in Sweden and a film deal is under negotiation.
PRAISE for A JUST DEFIANCE
Winner of the SA Sunday Times Literary Alan Paton Non-Fiction Prize 2009
Shortlisted for the University of Johannesburg Debut Prize 2008/9
Shortlisted for the Booksellers' Choice Award 2009.
'A dark chapter in our history brilliantly brought to light.' -- Ivan Vladislavic, author of PORTRAIT WITH KEYS and THE RESTLESS SUPERMARKET
'Only Peter Harris could tell our story the way it really happened.' -- Jabu Masina, MK commander
'IN A DIFFERENT TIME Peter Harris's wonderful book about a trial of four A.N.C. activists during the apartheid years. It's at once scrupulously written, heartbreaking and powerful. And it stayed with me - stays with me - the way all great books should.' -- Alexandra Fuller, author of DON'T LET'S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT, 'Paper Cuts' blog in New York Times
'IN A DIFFERENT TIME is the most wonderfully good book about South Africa I have read in a decade…This isn't a book review, however. It is a plea to buy and read it. I absolutely promise you'll enjoy every page…[The book] is one of those rare creations that helps make one isolated but hitherto divisive experience a new patch of common ground for us all.' -- Peter Bruce, editor, Business Day