STRUGGLE FOR AFRICA

A fresh broadly reasoned and open-minded study of a problem continent, country by country, whose various outcomes will affect each other as well as the rest of the world. As a British newspaper correspondent and member of parliament for twelve years, Mr. Bartlett has had a sound background for his penetrating and colorful book. That is evidenced almost immediately as we are taken into the turbulent history of South Africa and led through analyses of its peculiar national and social movements -- for example the Boer feeling of escaping from an oppressive Britain rather than of building anew -- to a firmer understanding of the tight tolerance alive today and the difficult thing it will be to relieve it. Along with past and contemporary economic and political situations, there is a consciousness of tribal mainstreams, as the author continues eastward on his way around the continent. Belgian Congo presents a brighter picture- of whites and natives working towards a stable society. Nigeria and the Gold Coast are still brighter, with native autonomy an almost realized goal. Turbulent Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia are discussed in clear relief as to their religious and political outbursts. Continuing on to fateful Kenya and the Mau Mau terrorism, there is the type of comment here that should both satisfy and provoke the serious thinker. A challenging book, this may be noted as one of the most outstanding volumes on Africa to date.