Autorentext

Edmund Reginald Anthony Engelbrecht was raised on Robben Island before it became internationally known as a prison for political detainees. In My 10 Years on Robben Island & Beyond: A Reminiscence, he recounts his childhood growing up within the island's small and isolated community, capturing the people, landscapes, hardships, humour, and everyday experiences of a forgotten chapter of South African history.

Klappentext

Before Robben Island became known to the world as a prison for political detainees, it was home to a small and isolated community where families lived, worked, and raised their children. In this deeply personal memoir, Edmund Reginald Anthony Engelbrecht recalls his childhood growing up on the island during a remarkable and little-documented period of its history. Through the eyes of a boy surrounded by sea, wind, and solitude, the island comes vividly to life-its rugged landscapes, its people, and the rhythms of everyday life in a place few outsiders ever experienced. From exploring abandoned buildings and hidden corners of the island to learning the ways of fishermen and the ocean, these recollections capture both the curiosity of youth and the resilience required to live in such a remote environment. Part memoir, part historical record, My 10 Years on Robben Island & Beyond preserves the memory of a community that has since vanished, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into a forgotten chapter of South African life.