Following the region from the settlement of Cape Town to post-Apartheid politics, this sweeping narrative takes in the complex history of South Africa, including portraits of key figures such as the Zulu chief Shaka, Cecil Rhodes, Nelson Mandela and lesser-known modern leaders. From the 17th-century Dutch decision to exploit slave labor to the terrible history of the diamond mines and crueler aspects of Apartheid, this opinionated history is an excellent guide to understanding the country.  (SAF57, $35.00)