Heavily researched and footnoted, this work by Mouton (history, U. of South Africa) is primarily a biography of Francois Stephanus Malan, a politician and editor who died in 1941. He was greatly ahead of his time in his advocacy of equal rights for blacks, and strangely dated in his position that South Africa should become an independent nation but remain within the British Empire. Although accorded a state funeral, his criticism of mine owners and his progressive theological views also received little accordance at the time. He has since faded into obscurity and this consummate work will do much to correct that for those with a strong interest in South African history. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)