Song for Sarah: Lessons from My Mother by Jonathan Jansen with Naomi Jansen

Song for Sarah: Lessons from My Mother is a deeply personal and moving memoir by renowned South African academic and author Jonathan Jansen, written with contributions from his sister, Naomi Jansen. Published by Bookstorm in 2017, the book is both an affectionate tribute to their mother, Sarah Jansen, and a wider reflection on motherhood, family, resilience and community in twentieth-century South Africa.

Jonathan Jansen looks back on his mother’s life, tracing her experiences from her early years in Montagu through the upheavals and hardships imposed upon families by apartheid and forced removals. Sarah emerges as a strong, practical and determined woman whose influence extended far beyond the everyday responsibilities of raising five children. Through her story, Jansen explores how mothers maintained families, passed on values, confronted difficult circumstances and provided stability in communities subjected to profound social and political pressures.

Song for Sarah combines family history, personal recollection and South African social history, with Naomi Jansen adding her own memories and perspective. The result is an intimate portrait of a remarkable mother while simultaneously recognising the experiences of countless South African women whose contribution to their families and communities has often gone undocumented.

Written with Jansen’s characteristic warmth, humour and insight, Song for Sarah will appeal to readers interested in South African memoirs, apartheid-era social history, family histories, women’s experiences and the work of Jonathan Jansen. It is also a thoughtful and accessible book about the powerful influence parents can have on the values and direction of their children’s lives.

Condition – Very Good 

Hardcover itself presents very well, with clean red boards and bright silver lettering. The dust jacket is present and shows some light handling and shelf wear.