Marion Wallace is African curator at the British Library and a historian of Namibia.
"Perceptive, multi-layered and judicious, Marion Wallace's
comprehensive History of Namibia is a veritable tour de force.
Based on a deep knowledge of the existing historiography but also
of the most recent research in Namibia itself, over two-thirds of
the volume deals with the history of the region and its peoples
since 1870, and ends with a deft summary of the period since
independence. Yet Wallace--and the archaeologist, John Kinahan, who
contributes the first chapter--are also to be congratulated on
their decision to root this account in the far deeper history of
south-west Africa. The volume will surely prove indispensable to
anyone with an interest in Namibian, southern African, and, indeed,
African history more widely."--Shula Marks, Emeritus Professor and
Hon. Fellow, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of
London"This first history of independent Namibia takes its small,
ethnically diverse, largely pastoral community, in a vast piece of
Africa, through colonialism, dispossession, genocide and war to the
birth of 'a stable, peaceful, relatively prosperous nation state.'
A compelling story, brilliantly told."--Randolph Vigne, writer,
researcher and campaigner on Namibia since the late 1950s"A
comprehensive history which will be essential reading for anyone
interested in moving beyond the shallow histories contained in
tourist guides. This well crafted, fair, insightful and sensitive
volume will appeal not only to the general reader but will be
compulsory reading for scholars as well. Wallace's book is destined
to become an instant classic."--Robert Gordon, Professor of
Anthropology and African Studies, University of Vermont
'Marion Wallace achieves nothing less then the first modern general
history of Namibia. Her erudite treatment of the various aspects of
Namibian history, from the German colonial racial state and the
first genocide of the twentieth century to the de facto annexation
by South Africa and the very late independence, will hugely benefit
scholars and students of Namibia and southern Africa more
generally.' - J�rgen Zimmerer, Professor of African History,
University of Hamburg"An indispensable introduction to the history
of Namibia for all interested in the country and her
people."--Africa Review of Books
"Rarely, if ever, do academic histories reflect...the whole gamut
from precolonial to postcolonial pasts. Marion Wallace has remedied
this problem in a magisterial new book, A History of Namibia....Her
goal here is synthesis and perspective and she succeeds admirably
on both fronts....At the same time that Namibians across
ethnicities are well served by, and well represented in, one of the
first survey texts of Namibian history, anyone interested in the
development of social systems and African politics writ large will
benefit from reading, and rereading, this book."--Mail and
Guardian, South Africa"Clearly written with impressive
documentation resembling that of research monographs, this is among
the best African country histories....Highly
recommended"--CHOICE'...without a doubt the best account of the
history [of Namibia] to date.' -- Historische
Zeitschrift'...without a doubt the best account of the history [of
Namibia] to date.' -- Historische Zeitschrift
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