PAGECAST

• Memory, Madness, and Memoir: James Whyle on We Two From Heaven

  In this episode of Pagecast, Jeremy Boraine sits down with acclaimed author James Whyle to discuss his latest literary work, We Two From Heaven. In this conversation they touch on the creative process, the themes that shaped the book, and the profound narratives woven throughout this remarkable work. Don't miss this insightful conversation that bridges literature and life. Whether you're a devoted reader or a curious listener, this episode offers a unique glimpse into the story behind the story. More about the book: We Two from Heaven is a singular memoir, a four-part fugue on the tricks and traps of memory, a shuffling of the cards of time. Episodes from the early life of writer James Whyle are interwoven with the letters of his father from the Western Front during the First World War. Their formative experiences – war, conscription, injury, desertion – flash by, juxtaposed, as if in counterpoint. How do we know who we are? Upending the reader’s expectations of a memoir, Whyle then explores the violence and madness of apartheid society as the narrator passes through boarding school and university and takes his first steps to become a writer. Raw and rhythmic, lyrical and caustic, this is an unsparing, formally inventive dissection of human vanities and illusions. At the end of history, on the shores of a blue bay, the voices of the past can be heard as we await the arrival of the barbarians – or the baboons, whoever comes first. More about James and Jeremy: James Whyle grew up in the Amatole Mountains in South Africa. Conscripted into the apartheid army, he was discharged on the grounds of insanity. He did everything in his power to assist the authorities in arriving at this diagnosis. The resulting play, National Madness, won an Amstel Playwright of the Year merit award in 1982. His story, The Story, was chosen by JM Coetzee as winner of the 2011 Pen/Studzinski competition. The Book of War, a novel, won the M-Net Lit Prize for best debut in 2012. Jeremy Boraine is Publishing Director at Jonathan Ball Publishers. #Pagecast #JamesWhyle #WeTwoFromHeaven #JeremyBorraine #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #LiteraryDiscussion #JonathanBallPublishers #PodcastLovers #CreativeWriting

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• Inside The Lion’s Den: Iris Mwanza on Justice, Identity & Fighting Power in 1990s Zambia

  Join us for a riveting conversation on Pagecast as Sewela Langeni sits down with Iris Mwanza to explore her gripping debut novel, The Lion's Den. This legal thriller set in Zambia's turbulent political landscape tackles themes of justice, gender equality, and systemic oppression. More about the book: Rookie lawyer Grace Zulu does not give up easily. She escaped an arranged marriage to put herself through university. Now she’s got her first case. Her client is young Willbess ‘Bessy’ Mulenga, who has been arrested for offences ‘against nature’. Bessy works in a men-only bar, loves to dance, to wear dresses and live freely. But in 1990s Zambia, following your own identity can get you beaten, jailed or even worse. Grace is determined to get Bessy out of custody. Then her terrified, bruised client goes missing without a trace. She knows something bad has happened and that someone is trying to cover it up. Along with the most unlikely group of allies, Grace must take on powerful enemies at the highest levels – even risk her own safety – to get to the truth. The whole truth. A debut novel that soars with passion and humanity, The Lions’ Den is a moving story of prejudice, corruption, injustice, courage and solidarity. It shows us that no cause is ever a lost one. More about Iris and Sewela: Iris Mwanza is a Zambian-American writer. Now Deputy Director of Women in Leadership in the Gender Equality Division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she has worked as a corporate lawyer in both Zambia and the US. Mwanza holds law degrees from Cornell University and the University of Zambia, and an MA and PhD in International Relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In addition to her work at the Foundation, Mwanza serves on the Supervisory Board of Care International and on the Board of Directors of World Wildlife Fund US. Sewela Langeni is an author and the owner of Book Circle Capital, an independent bookshop focusing on African Literature based at 27 Boxes in Melville, Johannesburg. She is passionate about literacy, especially in children. She is a Marketing Manager at one of South Africa's leading insurance companies. Her academic background spans from Journalism, Communication Sciences and Marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Strategic Marketing and Consulting from the University of Birmingham, UK. Sewela is an avid reader and reviewer of local books for adults and kids. In her role at Book Circle Capital, she also facilitates conversations on books with authors. #NewPodcastAlert #AfricanLiterature #LegalThriller #GenderEquality #ZambianAuthors #PodcastSeries #BookCircleCapital #BookPodcast #Fiction

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• Risk, Evolution, and Humanity’s Winning Streak: Don Ross on The Gambling Animal

  Join David Gorin as he sits down with Don Ross to discuss The Gambling Animal, a compelling exploration of human behaviour and risk-taking. Discover the psychology behind gambling, its societal impacts, and why we’re wired to take chances. Tune in for an insightful conversation. More about the book: Evolution is a series of bets, and no animal gambles the way humans do. This has led us to unprecedented ecological dominance, via the steepest odds and unlikeliest of outcomes, but our winning streak cuts both ways: the secret to our success may yet be our downfall. The Gambling Animal offers a revelatory retelling of the human story. Drawing on their unique research into the risk psychology of humans and other animals - including our most impressive rivals, elephants - Don Ross and Glenn Harrison reveal the hidden logic of our rise. Even before the dawn of civilisation, we bet the Earth on our ability to keep doubling down. But with an ecological crisis on the horizon, how long will our winning streak continue? More about Don and David: Don Ross is an experimental economist and philosopher of science, based at University College Cork in Ireland since 2016, the University of Cape Town in South Africa since 1997, and Georgia State University in Atlanta, USA since 2010. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, and growing up mostly in Ontario, he earned his PhD at the University of Western Ontario in 1990. Since then he's published many academic articles and books on a range of topics and has done policy consulting for public and corporate clients, including the World Bank, the South African National Roads Agency, the US Department of Commerce, and the Government of Namibia. He currently lives in Cork, Ireland. Dave Gorin is a former accountant, then an advertising strategist, and now a writer and observer of human nature, with a particular interest in history. As a book lover he has written over 200 reviews for a spectrum of South African publications.  #TheGamblingAnimal #DonRoss #DavidGorin #HumanBehavior #RiskTaking #Psychology #GamblingInsights #BookInterview #SouthAfrica #Elephants

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• The Rise and Return of White Supremacy: Gavin Evans in Conversation with Beverley Roos-Muller

  This week on Pagecast, Beverley Roos-Muller sits down with Gavin Evans to discuss his thought-provoking new book, White Supremacy: A Brief History of Hatred. Tune in for a deep dive into the complex and often disturbing history of white supremacy, and explore how its legacy continues to shape our world today. Don't miss this important conversation! 🎧 More about the book: White supremacy is on the rise in the world once again, often finding expression in acts of extreme violence by young white men. Gavin Evans explores the roots of this ideology, traced back to the 19th century to Charles Darwin and Francis Galton’s race-based theories. He examines the spread of eugenics and the rise of Nazism and Apartheid. Evans further investigates the 21st-century evolution of ‘Great Replacement’ ideas, their spread through alt-right forums, and their influence on young men with access to weapons. White Supremacy reveals the connections between mainstream and extremist ‘Replacement Theory’ and the ongoing promotion of race science by both far-right and establishment figures, highlighting the dangerous legacy of eugenics. More about Gavin and Beverley: Gavin Evans has practised as a journalist in South Africa and the UK and is the author of 10 books of non-fiction. He lectures at Birkbeck College, University of London, and is a member of the Royal Institution’s ‘Challenging Pseudoscience’ group. Evans lives in the UK and frequently travels to South Africa. Dr Beverley Roos-Muller is a former academic lecturing in humanities at the University of Cape Town. In her early years she was a journalist on the Cape Argus, and remains a broadcaster and writer on social, political and literary matters. She was an anti-apartheid activist in the 1980s, including as spokesperson for the multi-organisational Open City campaign opposing the Group Areas Act, and was a delegate to Lusaka with the Five Freedoms Forum in 1989. She is the author of Bullet in the Heart and Hunting the Seven. #Pagecast #SouthAfricanLiterature #NewBookRelease #WhiteSupremacy #SocialJustice #BookLovers #PodcastRecommendations #SouthAfricanPodcasts #BookDiscussion #GavinEvans #BeverleyRoosMuller #MustListen #HistoryBooks #NonFiction #SocialCommentary"

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• Empire, Architecture and Influence: The Life of Sir Herbert Baker with John Stewart

  This week on Pagecast, Michele Magwood is in conversation with John Stewart about his book, the first complete and comprehensive biography of Sir Herbert Baker. More about the book: Architect Sir Herbert Baker left an indelible mark on South Africa and much of the British Empire in the first half of the 20th century. This is the first full biography from childhood and was written with full cooperation from his family and with access to his archive and private papers. After a Victorian architectural apprenticeship in London, Sir Herbert Baker went on to become the most prolific architect of his age in South Africa, where he designed numerous public buildings, churches, schools and private houses, including the Union Buildings, St George’s Cathedral and Groote Schuur. Thereafter, he worked in India, Kenya and England where, among many other projects, he designed South Africa House. He was an intimate friend of many fascinating men of his age, including Cecil Rhodes, T. E. Lawrence, John Buchan and Jan Smuts. Lavishly illustrated, this biography offers a compelling picture of an architect whose buildings contribute greatly to South Africa’s rich history. More about John and Michele: John Stewart is an award-winning architect, architectural historian and author who, prior to his retirement, was the leader of one of the UK’s largest multi-disciplinary architectural practices. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal Society of Arts and was twice selected as one of the best 40 Architects under Forty in the UK. He has been writing and lecturing full-time since 2015 and has written six books. John was educated at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, the Oxford School of Architecture and Henley Management College and lives in Buckinghamshire outside London. Michele Magwood is an award-winning journalist and the former Books Editor of the Sunday Times. She has worked in television and broadcasting, and now edits and writes. #SirHerbertBaker #JohnSteward #SouthAfricanHistory #ArchitecturalHeritage #CapeDutchArchitecture #HistoricalBuildings #SouthAfricanPodcast #HistoryLovers #HeritageConservation #ColonialArchitecture #ArchitectsOfHistory #JohannesburgHistory #CapeTownArchitecture #UnionBuildings #SouthAfricanCulture #SouthAfricanPodcast

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