| My Traitor's Heart: A South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe and His Conscience | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Rian Malan |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Autobiography, Politics |
| Publisher | Atlantic Monthly Press |
| Publication date | 1989 |
| Pages | 349 |
| ISBN | 087113229X |
| OCLC Number | 20016093 |
| Dewey Decimal | 968/.00992 B 20 |
| LC Classification | CT1929.M35 A3 1990 |
My Traitor's Heart is an autobiographical book by Rian Malan first published in 1989 on his return from exile.[1] It is subtitled "South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe and His Conscience" or "Blood and Bad Dreams: A South African Exile Explores the Madness in His Country, His Tribe and Himself".
The book describes Malan's experience of growing up in Apartheid-era South Africa in which he explores race relations through prominent murder cases.[2][3] In addition, he reflects on the history of his family, a prominent Afrikaner clan that migrated to the Cape in the 17th century and included Daniel François Malan, the South African Prime Minister who was a principal ideological force behind Apartheid doctrine.[1]
The book became a best-seller, was translated into 11 languages[4] and was still in print 14 years later. It has been called both brilliant and racist.[5]