A Rainbow in the Night

South Africa's history glittered with diamonds and gold but suffered from the inequalities of its people. Apartheid, a system of legal racial segregation, appeared there in the 1950s, banishing "coloreds" to the bottom of society. Narrator Stefan Rudnicki's deep voice rumbles with an announcer-like resonance as he reads the encyclopedic introduction without animation. However, with the appearance of important characters like black activist Nelson Mandela and white supporter Helen Lieberman, Rudnicki becomes more charismatic. Delivering the author's inspiring narrative, his voice portrays the opposing emotions of both the inhuman cruelties experienced by the downtrodden and the proud excitement of Dr. Christiaan Barnard's first-ever heart transplant. Because of the universality of ethnic struggle, this audiobook would make an excellent resource for students of human rights. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

November 2, 2009
Author and philanthropist Lapierre (A Thousand Suns, The City of Joy) offers a harrowing overview of South African history, from Jan Van Riebeeck's first Dutch farming settlement to the presidential election of Nelson Mandela, including the founding of The Orange Free State and the Transvaal, the Boer war, the rise and fall of Apartheid, and more. Beginning with the arrival of Europeons in the late 17th century, Lapierre charts their subsequent Great Trek into the veld, their conviction that God had ordained them to found a new nation; and the martial clashes with Zulus that cemented their belief in white supremacy. Lapierre also recalls the heroes who triumphed over Apartheid: Helen Lieberman, who risked her life to establish health services and education in black ghettos; Christiaan Barnard, the surgeon who dared implant a "colored heart" in a white patient; and the residents of integrated neighborhoods like District Six, "an oasis of tolerance." Lapierre's biases and some suspect framing ("in a few rare instances, I have taken some liberty with the chronology") can render him untrustworthy: for instance, does "white oppression" really account for the Zulus' massacre of 60 unarmed, outnumbered Boers? Ultimately, this dramatic read, based on "extensive personal research," is absorbing but agenda-driven history. 60 b&w photos.

Starred review from April 1, 2010
Internationally best-selling writer Lapierre ("A Thousand Suns") recounts South Africa's tragic history, telling the stories of those who have both worked for and against apartheid: e.g., cardiologist Wouter Basson, who purportedly devised poison weapons to use against South Africa's blacks, and Helen Lieberman, founder of a social service agency that assists the disinherited there. The text is greatly enhanced by Simon Rudnicki's nuanced use of a slight Anglo African accent to voice the blacks (e.g., Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu) and an Anglo Dutch accent to voice the Afrikaners. A concise, up-to-date account that beautifully translates to audio; an excellent choice for public libraries and high school students.Nann Blaine Hilyard, Zion-Benton P.L., IL

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