Of libraries, books, and reading : a journey of meaning making
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Date
Authors
Smith, Edwin T.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Assosiasie
Abstract
In this essay I seek to demonstrate how an iterative reading of Archie L. Dick’s The Hidden History of South Africa’s Book and Reading Culture (2012),
read through a life history lens, makes meaning of the lived experiences of South Africans—particularly during the time of the struggle against
Apartheid, which is the focus of this essay. Relying on the life history approach to the recounting and exploration of South African history through
the library, book, and reading culture of South Africans, I trace the complex and multi-layered experience of South Africa and its peoples as reported
in The Hidden History. Interwoven with my own experiences with libraries, books, reading, and writing, I unveil the significant making of meaning in
Dick’s enterprise. As demanded by Dick, I confirm in this essay that South African liberation history must indeed include the roles played by librarians,
books, and the experiences of ordinary South Africans in order to provide a fuller appreciation of the various influences and understanding of South
Africa’s past.
Description
Keywords
History, Books, Reading, Struggle, Apartheid, Exile, Culture, South Africa (SA)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Smith, E 2020, 'Of libraries, books, and reading : a journey of meaning making', Tydskrif vir Letterkunde, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 101-108.