Ouma Smuts

Ouma Smuts by Tom Macdonald is a biography of Sybella Margaretha “Isie” Smuts, the wife of South African Prime Minister and statesman Jan Smuts. During the Second World War she became affectionately known as “Ouma Smuts”, a maternal figure to South African servicemen whose welfare work and charitable efforts made her a widely admired public personality.

Macdonald’s account traces her life from her upbringing in Stellenbosch to her role as the partner of one of South Africa’s most influential political leaders. The book highlights her work organising wartime support for troops, raising funds for the Gifts and Comforts Fund, visiting hospitals and encouraging soldiers overseas. Through these activities she became a symbolic “grandmother” figure to many South Africans during the war years.

This edition was issued as part of the Dassie Books series published by the Central News Agency Ltd., South Africa, a well-known mid-20th-century series of affordable paperbacks sold widely through South African news agencies.

A collectible example of South African Africana and mid-century publishing history.

Condition –  Very Good 

Original illustrated paperback covers with light handling wear and minor creasing. Price 2/6 printed on the cover as issued. Small ink mark to the top right corner of the front cover. Pages toned with age. A previous owner’s bookplate sticker is present on the front endpaper with a small approximately 1 cm tear to the endpaper directly below the sticker. Binding remains firm.