THE STATE OF AFRICA, a history of the continent since independence

770 pp., maps, illus., paperback, Revised S.A.Edition, London & Johannesburg, (2005) 2013

A revised and updated edition of Martin Meredith's history of post-colonial Africa.

Martin Meredith is a journalist, biographer and historian who has written many books about Africa and its recent history, including "In the Name of Apartheid" (1988), "Coming to Terms: South Africa's search for truth" (1999) and "Mugabe: power and plunder in Zimbabwe" (2002).

"'The State of Africa' is a heavy book, but it is light reading because it is so unfashionably straightforward. Martin Meredith has written a narrative history of modern Africa, devoid of pseudo-intellectual frills, gender discourse or post-colonial angst. He takes each of the larger African countries and tells you what happened there after independence. It is a joy. Africa's rulers will hate it" Wall Street Journal