In Blame Me on History, Modisane offers vivid portrayals of street life, music, community dynamics, and the everyday indignities suffered by black South Africans under institutional racism. His narrative does not shy away from hardship, but is also infused with humour, resilience, and insight into human dignity under oppression.
Author
Bloke Modisane
Publish Date
1963
Cover Type
Hardcover
Condition
Good
Minimal wear on dust jacket. Some form of water damage/pink coloured staining on dust jacket. Foxing of front matter and text block edges.
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Book Description
Blame Me on History by Bloke Modisane (1963, Thames and Hudson) is a powerful and unflinching memoir that chronicles the author’s youthful experiences growing up under apartheid in South Africa. In stark, evocative prose, Modisane recounts his life from childhood to early adulthood — the vibrancy of township culture, the struggles of poverty, and the brutal realities of racial segregation and social injustice. The book is widely regarded as a seminal work in South African literature and one of the earliest personal testimonies exposing the human cost of apartheid to a global audience.
In Blame Me on History, Modisane offers vivid portrayals of street life, music, community dynamics, and the everyday indignities suffered by black South Africans under institutional racism. His narrative does not shy away from hardship, but is also infused with humour, resilience, and insight into human dignity under oppression. By weaving personal memory with social commentary, the book gives readers a deeply human perspective on a painful and turbulent period of history — making it both emotionally resonant and historically significant.
This 1963 Thames and Hudson edition remains a valuable and collectible volume for readers of autobiographical literature, South African history, and anti-apartheid narratives. Blame Me on History stands out for its raw honesty, literary quality, and courage — making it a compelling addition to any second-hand book collection seeking voices of truth, resistance, and personal testimony.
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I recently bought a book online from Midlands Books and the experience was great! Robert was very helpful and shipped the book to Spain. The book was a rare find and in pristine conditions! Would recommend 100%!
Absolutely INCREDIBLE treasure trove of the most collectible books, coins and artifacts I’ve seen and absolutely worth the trip out to the Old Mushroom Farm to visit this gem - you could get let in the store for a week and still not get to see everything! Incredible service to match the selection! A must see and worthy of the five stars and more!
Excellent service from Midlands Books. They searched for books and ordered books in for me. I’ll definitely be doing business with them again in future.
We discovered Midlands books and collectibles at the old mushroom farm and at horse shoe bend. You can spend hours browsing the incredible selection of books. The vast array of bird books is definitely worth the visit.
I discovered the most enchanting magical bookshop – a true hidden gem! The moment you step inside, you’re surrounded by shelves that seem to stretch into other worlds, filled with every kind of story imaginable. From secret passageways to cozy reading nooks, this shop has it all, creating an atmosphere that feels like stepping into a fairytale. The staff are as knowledgeable as they are welcoming, always ready to recommend your next great adventure. It’s not just a place to buy books; it’s a doorway to other world with the incredible domed roof of the mushroom farm. A must-visit for any book lover!
Utterly enchanting, in a unique and magical setting (an old mushroom farm tunnel in the beautiful, wooded Midlands Meander). This is hands-down one of the best bookstores I've ever perused (I'm serious about books and work for a major publishing house).
The selection is incredible; I visited from Oxford (England) and was amazed at the very old, rare and precious gems on offer - books that would be snaffled up by auctioneers and collectors too quickly to even set eyes upon in the UK are waiting here at unbelievably good prices.
There is something for every interest and price point; this is both a solid second-hand bookshop as well as collectible store. The owner was so friendly and took time to show my family and I some of the oldest, largest, and most unusual items in the collection. We were dazzled by a poetry book from the Renaissance period; signed first editions of books from authors as diverse as Douglas Adams and Muhammed Ali; antique children's illustrated books and even a hand-coloured illustrated South African bird book. The owner also had an impressive coin / currency collection which was fascinating to view.
If the literature or objets d'art were not enough, there was also a delightfully cosy dog (pictured) - irresistible! I walked away a very happy customer and will go out my way to visit again when I'm next in South Africa.
Wow! Amazing diversity of previously owned and collectible books. I enjoyed the section on books about birds and birding - several shelves worth - just on this topic - including many rare and classic texts.
Blame Me on History
R220.00
In Blame Me on History, Modisane offers vivid portrayals of street life, music, community dynamics, and the everyday indignities suffered by black South Africans under institutional racism. His narrative does not shy away from hardship, but is also infused with humour, resilience, and insight into human dignity under oppression.
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Blame Me on History by Bloke Modisane (1963, Thames and Hudson) is a powerful and unflinching memoir that chronicles the author’s youthful experiences growing up under apartheid in South Africa. In stark, evocative prose, Modisane recounts his life from childhood to early adulthood — the vibrancy of township culture, the struggles of poverty, and the brutal realities of racial segregation and social injustice. The book is widely regarded as a seminal work in South African literature and one of the earliest personal testimonies exposing the human cost of apartheid to a global audience.
In Blame Me on History, Modisane offers vivid portrayals of street life, music, community dynamics, and the everyday indignities suffered by black South Africans under institutional racism. His narrative does not shy away from hardship, but is also infused with humour, resilience, and insight into human dignity under oppression. By weaving personal memory with social commentary, the book gives readers a deeply human perspective on a painful and turbulent period of history — making it both emotionally resonant and historically significant.
This 1963 Thames and Hudson edition remains a valuable and collectible volume for readers of autobiographical literature, South African history, and anti-apartheid narratives. Blame Me on History stands out for its raw honesty, literary quality, and courage — making it a compelling addition to any second-hand book collection seeking voices of truth, resistance, and personal testimony.
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