Morbid Fascination

Using a broad range of literature to examine the political culture of white South Africa, Peck finds both a preoccupation with political issues and a dislike for politics. The literature examined ranges from South African propaganda, through a variety of bestsellers—adventure stories and mystery novels written by authors such as Wilbur Smith and James McClure—to self-conscious literary works of the canonical white South African authors such as Alan Paton, André Brink, and Nadine Gordimer. The study gives attention to anti-political features of the liberal tradition that dominated South African writing, and to the failure of writers who undermined that tradition to generate a more positive view of politics. The morbid fascination with politics that is found across the full spectrum of creative writing is a reflection of the circumstances in which writers found themselves, but it is still a worrisome feature of the white South African political culture.

.,."a useful collection of studies on a range of South African authors and playwrights and will be an essential inclusion on courses dealing with contemporary South African literature."-International Journal of African History Studies, .,."stakes out important territory for gaining a better grasp of South African politics."-American Politcal Science Review, ?...a useful collection of studies on a range of South African authors and playwrights and will be an essential inclusion on courses dealing with contemporary South African literature.?-International Journal of African History Studies, ?...stakes out important territory for gaining a better grasp of South African politics.?-American Politcal Science Review, ?A Morbid Fascination is extensively researched, the style accessible and the contents clearly presented. It raises interesting questions for scholars of literature and South African affairs generally from an unusual interdisciplinary position....It is a welcome contribution to the study of South African literature, specifically white writing, drawn from an historical period which should not be allowed to fade from view.?-Southern African Review of Books

RICHARD PECK is Professor of International Affairs at Lewis and Clark College. He trained in Political Science and International Relations at the University of California, Berkeley, and at Yale University. A specialist in African and other Third World politics, and in international organizations, Peck has published in Research in African Literatures, World Literature Written in English, The Journal of Contemporary African Studies, The African Studies Review, and other journals.