My Traitor's Heart: A South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe, and His Conscience

This book came out when I was working in South Africa. It explores in an uncompromising way two rival phenomena: the hopes of 'white liberalism' and some harsh realities of South Africa's 'African-ness' which many urban liberals at that point seemed to pretend either were not there or were somehow only a function of apartheid. The passages on Creina Alcock, a 'white' South African who stepped far away from her background to live as a Zulu are are especially poignant, even stunning. I visited Creina in her remote hut on the strength of this book and was astonished by her courage and wisdom. Rian captures this extraordinary story in a moving if (for the average reader?) pessimistic way This book has universalist insights for anyone interested in whether Civilisations really do Clash. Rian Malan was on to something very profound in this book. It is vivid and appalling in places, and not always easy reading. So what? These issues are as difficult as anything we face. Read it, lots of times.

It seems that everyone has an opinion about Africa and all those opinions exist somewhere on a single sliding scale. At one end is the idea that all of that continent's problems are the result of some kind of post-colonial hangover and that if it hadn't been for the Europeans, Africa would be a wealthy, progressive Utopia. On the other extreme, is the opinion that the African culture has evolved in such a way as to virtually preclude `successful' statehood. Critics of this book tend to dislike it based on their position on that scale relative to the author's (somewhere in the middle, by the way.) Also, they sometimes use dubious facts and theories to back up their positions (e.g. Malan does indeed discuss the Afrikaner disinformation campaign designed to turn tribes/political movements against each other, and trying to determine what ethnic groups have `first settler' rights to a given piece of dirt is virtually impossible.)But all this is completely irrelevant. As is clearly stated in the extended title, this is the story of one man's journey though his own past and conscience. On this level, it is a triumph. It is the only book I have ever read that doesn't seem to include a single divisive word. Whether you agree with Malan's observations or not, I think it is clear that he agonized over and believed deeply in every one. Additionally, the book is beautifully written on almost every level: smooth, engaging prose, balanced structure, and unfailing pace. It is almost impossible for the reader not be affected in one way or another.It has been asked whether this book is still relevant in light of the fall of Apartheid and the progression of S.A. in the years since its publication. Certainly, as a wonderfully crafted look into one individual's soul and his struggle to find his place in the world, it is. But has it become outdated politically, as has been suggested? I wonder. At the writing of this review, Zimbabwe is trying hard to destroy itself in a misguided effort to deal with its colonial past. Unfortunately, My Traitor's Heart may have some life in it yet...

Oh, I'm not going to get intellectual about this book, for me it's impact has always been wrenching and emotional. And it's been deeply personal, with resonances. Rian grew up blocks away from me, I was a crime reporter in Johannesburg (although some years after Malan), a fire-brand leftist in my day. So this feels like my story, and I'm sure many white men of my generation feel the same. To this day this is the first book I give to friends or lovers, in the hope they'll understand something unexplainable about me and my twisted history. And they always do. Along with Coetzee's 'Disgrace', this book has been a constant companion, keeping me close to a certain truth. There are few better books about the bitter complexities of the land we all love with desperation and heartbreak. A book that changes you. And the greatest compliment - the book I wished I'd written. Kudos, kudos, kudos. Read it.

The previous 17 reviewers have given this book 5 stars, and I really have nothing more to add that hasn't been said already, but please permit me this personal indulgence.I am a (white) American with a longstanding interest in Africa. I had always meant to read this book. I even knew of Malan's record reviewing under the name Nelson Mandela. While vacationing in Southern Africa a few years ago with my (black) African wife, I ran out of reading material so I picked up "My Traitor's Heart" while browsing in a bookstore in Cape Town. A couple days later after a day of sightseeing, we returned to our hotel room and I lay down on the bed and began reading the book. It was an eery feeling to realize that, unknowingly, earlier that day we had visited the very farm where the transgressive act had taken place that sets the whole Malan family saga into motion. The book became a kind of companion for the rest of our stay in South Africa.Much of the literature produced during the apartheid period now seems dated. This book does not. People will still be reading it years from now.