African Whiteboy

About the Book

Apartheid triggered more than just a bitter struggle between Blacks and Whites; it pitted Afrikaner against 'Englishman', Afrikaner against Jew, and even, in odd cases, Afrikaners against each other.

This is a true story of an English-speaking white boy - half-Jewish - reared with liberal views in the dark shadows of racial and ethnic turmoil. But although rage-filled and tragic, it is not all sad. It is not, as the author says, 'without humor, or inimitable characters, or leaps of grand adventure.' He survives and even prospers in strange Africa, but elects to join an old wooden sailboat in a daring bid for the American dream. The USA deports him, but he relentlessly persists.

About the Author

Ian - Professor Emeritus Watson - was born in South Africa and grew up there. He worked as an exploration geologist for the diamond colossus De Beers, and subsequently received his Ph.D. from the Royal School of Mines in London where, as a Rio Tinto-Zinc Scholar, he studied under Sir John Knill, scientific advisor to the British Prime Minister. He presently conducts research on five continents, but proudly calls the United States home.