Wednesday, October 27, 2010

BENJAMIN BENNETT----South Africa's Greatest True Crime Reporter/Author

During his 25years as a crime reporter with the Cape Argus, Benjamin Bennett wrote many books on serious crime, particularly murder, and was acknowledged as the leading author in this genre,at the time,
so much so it is generally understood that he was consulted by the police when investigating some complicated and mysterious crimes.
His many books,some of which are listed below,reflect his close involvement ,both at the crime scene and also in the courtroom where he was regularly seen with pen and notebook in hand !
His books are a jolly good and fascinating read.

Book List:-

They Crossed my Path
Too late For Tears
The Clues Condemn
The Evil That Men Do
Murder is My Business
Why Did They Do It ?
And Your Verdict?
Destiny Comes Too Soon
Freedom--Or The Gallows
Murder Will Speak
The Amazing Case of the Baron von Schauroth.
The Cohen Case.

2nd List To Follow Shortly

ERIC ROSENTHAL------List of Publications----Part 1

Memories and Sketches
From Drury Lane to Mecca
Old Time Survivals in South Africa
Stars and Stripes in Africa
The Fall of East Africa
Fortress on Sand
General Dan Pienaar
Japan's Bid for Africa
General de Wet
Gold Bricks and Mortar
African Switzerland
The South African Saturday Book
Homes of the Golden City
They Walk in the Night
Pinelands
South African Jews in World War 2
Here are Diamonds
The Hinges Creaked
Shelter from the Spray
Shells to Shillings
Other Men's Millions
Cutlass and Yardarm
Today's News Today
The Changing Years
River of Diamonds.

Part 2 ---To follow shortly

Sunday, October 3, 2010

C.P.CARTWRIGHT

A great chronicler of the history of South African industry is C.P.Cartwright , possibly better known for his biographies and company histories.For example his excellent biography of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick,who although is naturally known for his "Jock of the Bushveld",virtually everybody's favourite book !,had a very interesting and varied life that A P Cartwright  illustrated in a very well written biography'
His books on gold and diamond mining and the production of dynamite are classics of the genre.
A list of his books will also be published shortly.

ERIC ROSENTHAL

I mentioned in an earlier post the name of Eric Rosenthal who most of us will remember  from his broadcasting days but on closer examination of his life I discovered that he was probably South Africa's most prolific author of non-fiction on a very varied selection of subjects. Here was a writer on such different subjects which include the history of broadcasting,the production and consumption of beer,the story of the old Carlton Hotel and a biography of General de Wet and many others,mostly relative to South Africa.I plan to publish a complete of his 49 books shortly.