Recommended books about apartheid

[Armchair]

Can anyone recommend a good book about apartheid, something that deals with it on a factual level for someone who doesn't know a great deal about this period of history? I have seen some glowing reviews for Kaffir Boy but would like a more fact-based introduction.

[ches]

Funny you should mention Kaffir Boy as the author gave a talk at my university last night. I had wanted to go, but sadly my little boy is not yet big enough to go to bed without his mommy. Anyway, Kaffir Boy is not about apartheid, but rather about someone growing up on the wrong side of the fence during apartheid. It is a good read, and you have to keep reminding yourself that he lived a life of privilege compared to the majority of the people. Anyway, there aren't many hard facts in Kaffir Boy, just one guy's perspective.

If you're after facts, but still want to stick to the biography format, I once read most of a Walter and Albertina Sisulu biography written by their daughter-in-law. It was researched like a dissertation and referenced with a list of sources at the end of each paragraph. Walter Sisulu was at the frontline during the anti-apartheid struggle, until he was sent to jail with Nelson Mandela and the rest of the Rivonia Trial folks. For details of the struggle outside of Robben Island you would have to look for a biography of Oliver Thambo or even Thabo Mbeki.

If you want a general history of South Africa book, Thompson's A History of South Africa is very good.