Jessop’s Story – The Ordinary Life of a Seventy-Percenter by Jessop Sutton

Jessop’s Story: The Ordinary Life of a Seventy-Percenter is the engaging autobiography of Herbert Jessop Sutton, who recounts a lifetime that mirrors the social and cultural changes experienced by many ordinary South Africans during the twentieth century. Raised in rural Natal, Sutton vividly recalls childhood on the farm, life in Greytown, school days, family tragedies, university life, his career with Woolworths, business ventures, church involvement and family life, creating a rich personal history spanning from the late 1930s into the 1990s.

Far more than a straightforward memoir, Jessop’s Story is interwoven with short stories, essays and poems inspired by the author’s experiences, adding warmth, humour and reflection to his recollections. Readers with connections to Greytown, Seven Oaks, Estcourt, Johannesburg, Cape Town or Natal will find the local history particularly engaging, while anyone interested in everyday South African life during the twentieth century will appreciate Sutton’s thoughtful observations.

Privately published in 2012, this title was produced in relatively limited numbers, making Jessop’s Story increasingly difficult to find on the second-hand market. This copy is made even more desirable by the author’s warm personal inscription and signature on the title page. It represents an appealing acquisition for collectors of South African autobiographies, regional history, family history, Nataliana and privately published works.

Whether purchased for historical interest, genealogical research or simply for an enjoyable personal memoir, Jessop’s Story offers an authentic and heartfelt account of an ordinary life lived through extraordinary decades of South African history.

Condition – Very Good

Paperback with light shelf wear and a creased spine. Internally clean throughout. Signed and warmly inscribed by the author on the title page.